Transferrin can replace serum for in vitro growth of mitogen-stimulated T lymphocytes.

Activation of human T cells by mitogens was compared in cultures containing serum, human serum albumin or purified human transferrin as growth support. The mitogenic effect of the lectins leucoagglutinin, concanavalin A and Wistaria floribunda agglutinin was measured as incorporation of [3H]thymidine into the cellular DNA of the lymphocytes. Three different preparations of transferrin were all able to fully substitute serum or serum albumin as growth promotors, when present at concentrations of 10 microgram/ml or more. A small contamination of transferrin in the human serum albumin preparations used was shown to be responsible for their growth-supporting effect, while no need for the presence of albumin itself could be demonstrated.