In vivo effects of an acute nonimmunological inflammation in rats on the lymphoproliferative response to mitogens.

Lymphoid cells (spleen, lymph node and thymus) derived from rats after induction of an acute nonimmunological inflammatory reaction responded to various mitogens (Phytohemagglutinin, PHA; Concanavalin A, Con A; Lipopolysaccharide, LPS) with increased proliferation when compared with cells derived from normal animals. In the absence of mitogens, lymphoid cells from animals undergoing an acute nonimmunological inflammation demonstrated enhanced proliferation compared with cells from normal animals. These results clearly demonstrated that during acute nonimmunological inflammation the reactivity of lymphoid cells was increased.