Lymphocyte stimulation by protein A of Staphylococcus aureus

Abstract

Protein A from Staphylococcus aureus (SpA) is known to bind to the Fc region of most mammalian IgG classes. In the present article data are presented showing that SpA is a highly efficient mitogen for human peripheral B lymphocytes, with no detectable activity for T lymphocytes. In order to achieve optimal stimulating conditions SpA should be presented to the lymphocytes on an insoluble matrix, such as the SpA‐positive bacteria themselves or SpA covalently attached to Sephadex or Sepharose beads. Using such conditions SpA is equivalent with regard to stimulatory capacity for B lymphocytes as phytohemagglutinin is for the human T lymphocytes. Specificity controls proved beyond doubt that SpA and not any other contaminating product is the B cell mitogen. It is concluded that SpA as an inducer of human B lymphocyte division might serve as a highly useful assay in the clinical assessment of B lymphocyte function. It should also be a suitable tool in the fine analysis of B lymphocyte activation via the specific interactions with surface IgG molecules.