Technical Report No. 10-86
Human lymphocyte mitogenic factor extracted from Ascaris suum
Sasagawa S, Suzuki K, Fujikura TEditor’s note: A publication based on this report was published in Exp Parasitol 64:71-7, 1987.
Summary
Ascaris suum extract (ASE) was found to contain a mitogenic factor which stimulates human lymphocytes. ASE (100 mug protein/ml) induced an increase in [3H]-thymidine incorporation into human lymphocytes, at a level similar to that obtained with pokeweed mitogen (11 mug/ml). Stimulation of mitosis appeared to be more effective with T lymphocytes than non-T lymphocytes. The mitogenic activity of ASE was reduced only by 27% when treated at 56 degrees centigrade for 30 minutes or when immersed into boiling water for one minute. ASE was fractionated into four protein peaks by Sephacry1 S-200 column chromatography. Lymphocyte mitogenic activity was observed in the first half of the first protein peak. Allergenic activity assessed by the passive cutaneous anaphylaxis test in rats was observed in the latter half of the same peak. These results suggest that ASE contains both an allergen and a mitogenic substance.
Ascaris suum extract (ASE) was found to contain a mitogenic factor which stimulates human lymphocytes. ASE (100 mug protein/ml) induced an increase in [3H]-thymidine incorporation into human lymphocytes, at a level similar to that obtained with pokeweed mitogen (11 mug/ml). Stimulation of mitosis appeared to be more effective with T lymphocytes than non-T lymphocytes. The mitogenic activity of ASE was reduced only by 27% when treated at 56 degrees centigrade for 30 minutes or when immersed into boiling water for one minute. ASE was fractionated into four protein peaks by Sephacry1 S-200 column chromatography. Lymphocyte mitogenic activity was observed in the first half of the first protein peak. Allergenic activity assessed by the passive cutaneous anaphylaxis test in rats was observed in the latter half of the same peak. These results suggest that ASE contains both an allergen and a mitogenic substance.