EFFECT OF CONALBUMIN ON THE PHYTOMITOGEN STIMULATION AND ON E-ROSETTE FORMATION OF HUMAN PERIPHERAL LYMPHOCYTES OF NORMAL SUBJECTS

An immunological study was conducted in vitro on conalbumin, an iron binding protein structurally similar to lactoferrin, a well known bacterial inhibitor of human milk. Conalbumin itself has a bacteriostatic activity against a broad spectrum of bacteria responsible for gastrointestinal infections. The activity of conalbumin on the in vitro response to PHA [phytohemagglutinin], PWM [pokeweed mitogen] and Con A [concanavalin A] and on the E[erythrocyte]-rosette formation ability of peripheral lymphocytes of 10 normal subjects was studied. Conalbumin does not affect the lymphocyte E-rosette formation ability and does not induce blastic transformation of lymphocytes. Conalbumin is able to significantly increase the in vitro response of lymphocytes to PHA and PWM, suggesting an action on both T and B lymphocytes.