Alkaline phosphatase activity is expressed in murine splenic B-lymphocytes sensitized in vivo with Tetanus toxoid.

Alkaline phosphatase (APase) activity and proliferative response to Tetanus toxoid (TT) were measured in murine splenic lymphocytes immunized in vivo with TT. APase activity was enhanced in TT-stimulated B-lymphocytes concomitant with an increase in the proliferative response in a dose-dependent manner. Cytochemical staining for APase using beta-naphthyl phosphate also showed an increase in APase positive cells in TT-stimulated lymphocyte population. The results suggest that membrane APase expression is a physiological phenomenon occurring in antigen-stimulated B-lymphocytes.