Stimulation of B cells by sequential addition of anti-immunoglobulin antibody and cytochalasin.

B cells are stimulated to initiate DNA synthesis by modest doses of anti-immunoglobulin antibody in combination with cytochalasin. The ability of these agents to stimulate B cells in a sequential fashion was evaluated. Anti-immunoglobulin prepared cells to respond to subsequently added cytochalasin, but cytochalasin did not prepare cells to respond to anti-immunoglobulin. Only brief exposure to anti-immunoglobulin was needed to activate B cells for cytochalasin responsiveness; once activated, B cells remained responsive to cytochalasin for hours. The ability of cytochalasin to supply a second signal to activated B cells suggests that the cytoskeleton may be involved in generating or transducing growth-promoting signals for B lymphocytes.