Modulation of lymphocyte mitogenesis.

Comparisons of the stimulation of normal lymphocytes and lymphoma cells by tetrameric concanavalin a (Con ta) and dimeric succinyl-Con A suggest that both stimulatory and inhibitory signals operate to modulate mitogenesis. Synergistic effects can be obtained for the stimulatory event using lectins, phorbol esters, and calcium ionophores, all of which are independently mitogenic for lymphocytes. The inhibitory effects of high doses of Con A could be mimicked by the simultaneous addition of the phorbol ester and Con A under conditions in which both reagents are optimally mitogenic when used alone. No inhibition of stimulation was found, however, when succinyl-Con A was used with phorbol ester under the same conditions. Moreover, when lymphocytes were cultured with Con A in the presence of succinyl-Con A, the inhibitory effect of the native lectin was seen at lower doses than in the absence of the derivative. These observations suggest that the stimulatory and inhibitory portions of the dose-response curve can be manipulated independently and may be mediated by two distinct signals. It is likely the signal for the inhibition of cell proliferation is regulated by the same cell surface modulating assembly that controls the mobility of cell surface receptors.