Stimulation of B-cells by dextran sulphate in vitro.

Abstract

Dextran sulphate (DS) stimulates [(3)H]TdR incorporation in spleen cells of various strains of mice including athymic nude mice. In spleen cells of normal mice an additive effect of DS on the PHA-response was detected. The results suggest that DS is a B-cell mitogen. It seems that the mitogenic activity of polyanions may be related to their effects on antibody formation.