[Polyclonal activation of B-lymphocytes by synthetic polyelectrolytes].

A study was made of the ability of polyacrylic acid, poly-4-vinylpyridine, and the copolymers 4-vinylpyridine and 4-vinyl-N-alkylpyridinium bromides with side hydrocarbonic radicals of varying length to induce in mice of different strains B-cell differentiation into the plaque-forming cells without antigenic stimulation. The polyelectrolytes have been shown to favour the transformation of B lymphocytes to the cells that secrete polyclonal antibodies, i.e. to be polyclonal activators of B lymphocytes. B lymphocyte differentiation induced by the polyelectrolytes does not depend on T cells and is liable to genetic restriction.