Duck lymphocytes. VI. Requirement for phagocytic and adherent cells in lymphocyte transformation.

Preparations of duck (Anas platyrhynchos) spleen and blood lymphocytes depleted of cells capable of phagocytosing carbonyl iron gave lower transformation responses to the mitogens phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), concanavalin A (Con A), Bandeiraea simplicifolia seed lectin (BSS), wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), lentil lectin (LL) and phorbol ester (PMA) than intact cell preparations. When cell populations were fractionated on the basis of their adherence to plastic, it was found that the adherent cells were responsive to PHA, Con A, BSS, WGA and PMA, while the non-adherent cells responded to LL. These observations confirm the expected requirement for phagocytic accessory cells in the induction of in vitro mitogen-driven duck lymphocyte responses. The responses of plastic-adherent populations of cells to most mitogens are believed to reflect the generally close physical relationship between the adherent accessory cells and the lymphocytes, although it remains possible that duck monocytes respond to some of the mitogens employed. The data also suggest that LL stimulates a population of cells different to those responding to other mitogens.