Dissociation of Leukagglutinating and Transforming Properties of Phytohemagglutinin by the Coating of Lymphocytes with Vi Polysaccharide

Abstract

Purified suspensions of human peripheral lymphocytes can be coated with the Vi polysaccharide in a manner analogous to that established for erythrocytes. The presence of the Vi polymer on lymphocytes completely suppresses the agglutination of these cells otherwise produced by isoantisera and by lectins, including phytohemagglutinin [PHA]. The transformation of Vi-coated lymphocytes into blast-like cells by PHA proceeds normally in the absence of any discernible leukagglutination.