Mitotic cells in different lymphocyte subsets in unfractionated cultures stimulated by phytohaemagglutinin or pokeweed mitogen

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Abstract
Unfractionated peripheral blood lymphocytes were cultured in the presence of either phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) or pokeweed mitogen (PWM) for 3 and 6 days. The subpopulations of mitotic lymphocytes were determined by an immunoperoxidase technique. Our results demonstrate that the proportion of mitotic B cells is approximately equal in PHA- and PWM-stimulated cultures. The frequency of mitotic CD22+B cells varied from 3% to 5% and that of cells positive for the monoclonal antibodies anti-lambda and anti-kappa from 5% to 7%. We showed that PHA stimulates mitoses in CD8-positive suppressor cells more effectively than does PWM. The mean proportion of CD8+ cells in mitosis was 29% when cultured with PHA for 3 days and 17%, in the presence of PWM. Culturing for 6 days with PHA increased the proportion of mitotic CD8+ cells, but PWM stimulation did not affect the frequency of mitoses in this lymphocyte subgroup.