Mitogenic response of lymphocytes from C3H/HeJ mice in the presence of lipid A and lipid A fractions.

Purified lipid A and eight fractions of lipid A were examined for the ability to elicit a mitogenic response in spleen lymphocytes of endotoxin-resistant C3H/HeJ mice. The pattern of results obtained with different lipid A fractions was similar to that observed with spleen cells from the endotoxin-responsive C57Bl/6J mouse. Although the absolute mitogenic response of C3H/HeJ lymphocytes to lipid A was diminished, the cells apparently were completely normal with respect to the pattern of relative mitogenic responses induced by purified fractions of lipid A.