Effect of Leucogenenol on Human Peripheral Lymphocyte Cultures

Abstract

A purified preparation of leucogenenol in concentration of 1 µg/ml induces blastoid transformation in lymphocyte cultures (peripheral human blood). The percentage of blasts obtained is of the same order as following phytohaemagglutinin stimulation (60 and 75%, respectively). The results are briefly discussed in relation to blastogenic activity of the substance, prepared from a surface culture of Penicillium gilmanii.

The Action of Leucogenenol on Lymphoblastoid Cells of Normal and Neoplastic Origin

“…Addition of leucogenenol to a tissue culture of lymphoblastoid cells increases the respiratory quotient (RQ) ( l o ) , increases the rate of replication, decreases the rate of oxygen consuniption ( 10) and induces approximately 60% blastoid transformation in leukocyte cultures of human peripheral blood ( 11).…”

“…However lymphoblastoid cells of neoplastic origin may be characterized by the RQ and rate of oxygen consumption and the magnitude of the effect of leucogenenol on the RQ and rate of oxygen consumption. The fact that leucogenenol causes an increased rate of maturation (5,6) of the progenitors of the peripheral leukocytes and also increases blast formation of human peripheral leukocytes in tissue culture (11) suggests the possibility that leucogenenol acts on an enzyme system that in tissue culture results in a change in RQ and oxygen consumption, while in the animal the same system is associated with the maturation or transformation of blood cells. The uniformity of action of leucogenenol on lymphoblastoid cells of normal human origin compared to the variable and characteristic action of leucogenenol on lymphoblastoid cells of neoplastic origin suggests the possibility that malfunctioning of the system that is affected by leucogenenol is responsible for neoplastic blood diseases.…”