Proliferative response of T lymphocytes to a proline-rich polypeptide (PRP) : PRP mimics mitogenic activity of Il-1
Zimecki, M.; Pierce, C.W.; Janusz, M.; Wieczorek, Z.; Lisowski, J.
Archivum Immunologiae et Therapiae Experimentalis 35(3): 339-349
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0004-069X PMID: 3502239 Document Number: 304139
Mitogenic properties of a proline-rich polypeptide were investigated. The mitogenic action of PRP was compared with the mitogenic action of Il-1. PRP was not mitogenic for thymocytes at doses 0.01-50 micrograms/ml. PRP, at doses 0.1-50 micrograms/ml, augmented the proliferative response of thymocytes to Con A in a similar fashion as Il-1. At doses higher than 10 micrograms/ml, PRP induced proliferation of lymph node cells and splenocytes as well as T cells from the lymph nodes. It did not, however, cause significant proliferation of B cells from the lymph nodes, at the doses used. PRP did not induce proliferation of an antigen specific Lyt 1+ T cell clone. Il-1 behaved in a similar way as PRP in all the tests described. We consider a possibility that under physiological conditions, at a very early stage of postneonatal life, PRP may replace some functions of Il-1.