Functional characterization of lanatoside-C-responsive cells.

Lanatoside C, a digitalis glycoside previously shown to be a polyclonal B-cell activator (PBA), was found to stimulate immature cells residing in fetal liver, bone marrow and spleen but also to activate cells from peripheral lymph nodes and peripheral blood. The proliferative response obtained in spleen cells was not affected by macrophage removal, whereas anti-Ig or anti-Ia antiserum pretreatment partially inhibited the responses. Removal of T cells by a pretreatment with anti-Thy 1.2 antiserum plus complement caused a marked increase in the proliferative response of the remaining cells, suggesting the existence of a naturally occurring suppressor T cell for glycoside-induced mitogenesis. Synergy experiments with 'classical' PBAs and lanatoside C, given simultaneously or subsequently, suggest an overlap between the lanatoside-C-responding cell population and the dextran sulphate (DxS)- and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-sensitive cells. Since DxS-induced activation of B cells is dependent on macrophages, it is suggested that lanatoside C may be used as a functional marker for direct activation of immature B cells.