Interaction of Lymphoid and Nonlymphoid Cells with the Lymphocytosis-Promoting Factor of Bordetella pertussis

ABSTRACT

The activity of soluble lymphocytosis-promoting factor (LPF) from Bordetella pertussis decreased after brief in vitro incubation with lymphoid cells or erythrocytes. The LPF activity was found to be associated with the cells used, and injection of the cells produced a leukocytosis and lymphocytosis which completely accounted for the loss of soluble activity. Attachment of LPF to cells was found to be reversible in vitro. It is suggested that reversible binding occurs in vivo.