Related Experiment Videos
Sarcocystis gigantea lectin--mitogen and polyclonal B-cell activator
1Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie des Bereiches Medizin (Charité), Humboldt-Universität, Berlin.
Parasitology Research
|January 1, 1990
Summary
Sarcocystis gigantea lectin (SGL) is a powerful mitogen that stimulates human mononuclear cells (MNC) and acts as a polyclonal activator for B cells, promoting lymphocyte proliferation and antibody production.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Parasitology
Background:
- Sarcocystis gigantea lectin (SGL) has previously been shown to be mitogenic for human mononuclear cells (MNC).
- Further investigation into the immunomodulatory effects of SGL is warranted.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the in vitro effects of SGL on human peripheral B cells.
- To determine if SGL acts as a polyclonal activator and induces B cell maturation.
- To compare the mitogenic and B cell activating potential of SGL with pokeweed mitogen (PWM).
Main Methods:
- Human mononuclear cells (MNC) were cultured in vitro with SGL.
- Lymphocyte proliferation was assessed using the [3H]-thymidine incorporation assay.
- B cell maturation was evaluated by measuring IgG and IgM production.
Main Results:
- SGL demonstrated potent mitogenic activity, inducing significant lymphocyte proliferation in human MNC.
- SGL acted as a polyclonal activator for human peripheral B cells, promoting B cell maturation and antibody production (IgG and IgM).
- SGL induced significantly higher proliferative responses compared to PWM, although IgG and IgM synthesis levels were comparable.
Conclusions:
- SGL is a potent mitogen and a polyclonal activator of human peripheral B cells.
- SGL stimulates lymphocyte proliferation and induces B cell maturation, leading to increased IgG and IgM production.
- The sarcotoxin-containing fraction (SGTF) did not exhibit similar immunomodulatory effects.