FURTHER-STUDIES ON THE MITOGENIC AND IMMUNE-MODULATING EFFECTS OF PLASMINOGEN-ACTIVATOR

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 45  (4) , 715-720
Abstract
Plasminogen activator (PA), an enzyme secreted in large quantities by certain types of tumor cells, is an apparent lymphocyte mitogen. Treatment of mouse spleen cells with anti-Thy-1.2 serum plus complement prevents responsiveness, indicating that T cells are being stimulated to divide. PA has the capacity to interfere with certain types of cell-mediated cytotoxicity and natural killer cell reactions in which tumor cells are employed as targets. PA may play an immune-modulating role which may be of important in tumor self-defense.