Effect of Lectins on the Levels of cAMP and cGMP in Guinea Pig Lymphocytes: Early Responses of Lymph Node Cells to Mitogenic and Non-Mitogenic Lectins

Abstract

Guinea pig lymph node lymphocytes were reacted with two mitogenic lectins (LcL-A or PHA) and two nonmitogenic lectins (AbL or WGA), and the levels of cAMP and cGMP were determined during 30 min of culture. Various concentrations of LcL-A and PHA caused modest (1.5 to 2-fold) rises in cAMP levels. However, the rise in cAMP did not correlate with the degree of mitogenicity. AbL caused a greater rise in cAMP than the mitogenic lectins whereas WGA had no effect on cAMP levels. None of the four lectins causes an appreciable (i.e., greater than 1.5-fold) change in cGMP levels. There does not seem to be any positive correlation between early changes of cAMP and/or cGMP and mitogenesis.