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Infect Immun. 1973 January; 7(1): 46-52
Copyright © 1973 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Cytotoxicity of Concanavalin A-Activated Hamster Lymphocytes

Department of Virology and Epidemiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77025

ABSTRACT

The ability of hamster lymphoid cells to become cytotoxic in vitro to xenogeneic human cells after stimulation with concanavalin A (ConA) was investigated by using the cell-mediated ⁵¹Cr release test. Cytotoxicity developed by 12 to 16 hr with peak values acquired within 24 hr of stimulation with ConA. The cytotoxicity was found to be mediated by the lymphoid cells themselves rather than by soluble substances. Spleen cells were more efficient than lymph node cells in releasing radioactivity from human cells. The concentration of mitogen was found to be critical in the development of cytotoxicity. ConA concentrations of 12.5 µg or less per culture conferred upon the lymphoid cells the capacity to release ⁵¹Cr from target cells whereas higher concentrations were ineffective and even inhibitory. The cell-mediated cytotoxicity could be reversed by methyl -D-glucopyranoside, but only during the first 8 to 12 hr of stimulation. The lytic reaction did not require the presence of ConA.