Differential effect of vanadate on DNA synthesis induced by mitogens in T and B lymphocytes

The effect of sodium orthovanadate on enhancement of DNA synthesis by T and B cell mitogenic agents was studied using murine thymocytes and splenocytes. Addition of vanadate to thymocyte cultures inhibited the mitogenic response induced by concanavalin A in a dose dependent manner (50% inhibition at 10 microM). On the other hand, DNA synthesis induced in thymocytes by pokeweed lectin and periodate treatment essentially was not inhibited at the lower vanadate concentrations that were markedly effective for concanavalin A induced synthesis. In addition, no significant inhibition of mitogenesis of splenic B cells in response to lipopolysaccharide and dextran was detectable at lower vanadate concentrations. In the absence of added mitogens, vanadate was found to be mitogenic for a subpopulation of thymus cells but not for splenocytes or T cell enriched splenocyte populations. These results suggest that vanadate affects the mitogenic responses in lymphocytes and that the interaction of vanadate with T and B cells is different.