HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Rotter, V. Articles by Trainin, N. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Rotter, V. Articles by Trainin, N.

Response of Human Lymphocytes to PHA and Con A, Dependent on and Regulated by THF, A Thymic Hormone

Department of Cell Biology, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel

Abstract

The response of human lymphocytes to T lectins was shown to be dependent on and regulated by THF (thymus humoral factor). When human lymphocytes were stimulated with T lectins in the presence of dialyzed human plasma (DHP) which probably contains a low thymic hormone concentration, we observed a reduced response to PHA and Con A, compared to that observed in the presence of whole human plasma (WHP). This reduced reactivity to T lectins in the presence of DHP was restored by the addition of plasma dialyzates or THF. On the contrary, addition of THF to cultures in the presence of WHP caused a significant reduction in reactivity to T lectins, suggesting that enhancement or reduction of the response of human lymphocytes to T lectins by THF depends on the endogenous content of the thymic hormone in the plasma. From the present data it is suggested that the response of human cells to PHA behaves differently from that to Con A, as reflected in their dependence on THF. Although the response of human cells to Con A is increased by THF only in the presence of DHP, the response to PHA is also enhanced by THF in the presence of low WHP concentrations or even in the absence of WHP.

Footnotes

¹ Department of Pediatrics, Kaplan Hospital, Rehovot.

² The Harold L. Korda Professor of Cancer Research. Established Investigator of the Ministry of Health, Israel.