Specific Endogenous Mitotic Inhibitors of Human Lymphocyte Transformation

Abstract : On the basis of investigations into the control of epidermal proliferation, and maturation, Bullough and Laurence proposed that epithelial cells make a specific and endogenous mitotic inhibitor ('chalone') which functions to preclude mitosis in the epidermal cells in conjunction with both adrenal medullary and cortical hormones. Subsequent studies by a number of workers have indicated that these specific endogenous mitotic inhibitors (SEMIs) might also be found for melanocytes, granulocytes, kidney cells, and lens cells. Moorhead et al., have presented preliminary evidence to suggest that aqueous extracts of the lymph node from pigs are capable of inhibiting the phytohemagglutinin (PHA) induced transformation of human lymphocytes. This paper describes further studies in the elucidation of the existence of a specific and endogenous mitotic inhibitor for lymphocytes which may well be relevant to controlling allograft rejection in vivo.