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Clinical and Experimental Immunology logoLink to Clinical and Experimental Immunology
. 1979 Apr;36(1):107–111.

Protein A-positive staphylococci serve as a selective B cell mitogen for lymphocytes from primary immunodeficiency patients.

M C Sirianni, F Pandolfi, F Aiuti, H Wigzell
PMCID: PMC1537706  PMID: 313858

Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus protein A-positive bacteria have recently been proposed as selective B lymphocyte mitogens. We have studied the lymphocyte response to such mitogens in bacteria in normal subjects and in patients with primary immunodeficiencies. Patients with primary T cell defects show a normal response to protein A-positive bacteria and impaired responses to PHA and Con A. In contrast, patients with Bruton agammaglobulinaemia respond normally to these T cell mitogens but not to the bacteria. Thus, protein A-positive bacteria fulfil the criteria for being a T cell-independent B cell mitogen for human peripheral blood cells.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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