DIFFERENTIAL-EFFECTS OF CONCANAVALIN-A, SERUM AND CYTOKINES ON PROTEOGLYCAN ELABORATION AND DNA-SYNTHESIS BY MONONUCLEAR-CELLS FROM HUMAN PERIPHERAL-BLOOD

Human blood derived mononuclear cell (MC) cultures required concanavalin A (Con A) stimulation to synthesize and secrete into the medium high levels of a protease-resistant proteoglycan (PG) containing predominantly chondroitin sulfate (CS), which was elaborated largely by T-cells in culture. PG and DNA synthesis were studied in MC cultures in the absence and presence of Con A as well as serum and some biologically active polypeptide factors. In the presence of Con A, stimulation of PG synthesis was substantially greater in T-cell enriched cultures than in B-cell enriched cultures. DNA synthesis was also stimulated in the presence of Con A. This stimulation was concentration-dependent, but required the presence of serum for additional responses. DNA and cell proliferation were stimulated by interleukin-2 (IL-2), but PG production was not stimulated by conditioned media, IL-1, IL-2, IL-3, or transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). Our ressults indicate that the elaboration of PG from T-cells of human MC is independent of the effects of regulatory peptides on cell proliferation and DNA synthesis. © 1991.