Lymphocyte mitogenesis induced by a mammalian liver protein that specifically binds desialylated glycoproteins.

Abstract

A purified rabbit liver membrane protein that binds desialylated glycoproteins as a mitogen for human peripheral lymphocytes. The mitogenic activity is specific for desialylated thymus-derived (T)-cells. The loss of mitogenicity upon exposure of the binding protein to neuraminidase and the inhibitory potency of asialo-orosomucoid show that the site involved in the binding of asialoglycoproteins is also responsible for the mitogenic effect on desialylated lymphocytes. The potential relevance of this phenomenon to the etiology of hepatocellular necrosis is considered.