The Effect of Antigen on the Rate of Guanosine-8-C14 Incorporation by Lymphocytes

Abstract

Summary Lymphocyte cultures from PPD-hypersensitive human donors have been shown to develop an increase in the rate of nucleic acid synthesis upon stimulation with PPD. This increase, as reflected by the rate of incorporation of guanosine-8-C14 into a trichloroacetic acid-insoluble fraction, occurs between the 5th and the end of the 13th day of culture with a peak at 8 days. Cells from weakly-sensitive donors have a peak of incorporation at approximately 3 days. Lymphocyte cultures from ragweed-sensitive human donors, demonstrating no delayed hypersensitivity reaction, developed a slight increase in the rate of nucleic acid synthesis upon stimulation with ragweed extract. The peak observed was at day 6 and the rate of incorporation fell to normal levels by day 8. The reaction appears not to be influenced by antibody or antibody-producing cells.