Lymphocyte transformation induced by autologous splenocytes incorporated with the tetrasialoganglioside G_Q1b

Incorporation of the tetrasialoganglioside G_Q1b into membranes of mouse splenocytes rendered these cells effective triggers in an autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction. Whereas G_Q1b‐incorporated cells increased mitogenic responses of thymocytes by 10 to 13‐fold over untreated cultures, the trisialoganglioside G_T1b was only partially effective, and the di‐ and monosialogangliosides tested had no effect. The mixed lymphocyte reaction generated in the autologous system by highly glycosylated gangliosides is abolished by neuraminidase or mild formic acid treatmnt prior to their insertion into target cell membranes suggesting a role for the extra sialic acid residues in imparting additional antigenic specificity to the modified cells.