Carbohydrate metabolism in PHA stimulated human peripheral blood lymphocytes

Human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) stimulated in vitro by phytohemoagglutinin (PHA) manifest augmented glycolysis and oxidation of glucose-1-14C, indicating an increased utilization of the pentose pathway. Lactic acid production, as index of increased glycolysis, follows the same kinetic of thymidine incorporation and can be easily quantitated by an enzymatic assay.