Stimulation of human lymphocytes by B-cell mitogens.

  • 1 November 1974
    • journal article
    • Vol. 18  (3) , 347-56
Abstract
B-cell mitogens stimulate human peripheral blood lymphocytes in the following order of effectiveness: levan, lipopolysaccharide, dextran. The incidence and magnitude of the response was increased in patients with chronic gingival and periodontal disease. Whereas in 45% of healthy subjects levan yielded a stimulation index >3, patients manifested an increased response according to the severity of the disease, reaching 75% in the advanced form of periodontitis. Levan and LPS stimulated spleen lymphocytes to yield higher stimulation indices than peripheral blood lymphocytes. The in vitro responses to these mitogens were abolished by the removal of B lymphocytes or by the depletion of phagocytic cells. It is now evident that a protein component of Veillonella alcalescens stimulates T lymphocytes, whereas lipid A fraction of lipopolysaccharide from the same organism stimulates B lymphocytes.