Effects of mitogens on glucose oxidation by lymphocytes from normal individuals and patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

The effects of phytohemagglutinin (PHA), concanavalin a (con A) and endotoxin on glucose oxidation by lymphocytes from normal individuals and patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (Cll) were demonstrated without using tissue culture techniques. PHA and CON A had no effect on glucose-6-14C oxidation, but stimulated glucose-1-14C oxidation by normal lmphocytes. This stimulation of glucose-1-14C oxidation occurred within 1 hour and could be prevented by colchicine. In contrast, endotoxin had no effect on either gucose-I-14C or glucose-6-14C oxidation by normal lymphocytes. Lymphocytes from five out of six Cll patients showed low basal rate of gucose-1-14C oxidation by the lymphocytes of these five patients.