Mitogen
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218151065
2008-06-09T11:28:10Z
202.62.237.4
{{MAP kinase activation}}
A '''mitogen''' is a [[chemical substance]], usually some form of a [[protein]], that encourages a cell to commence [[cell division]], triggering [[mitosis]].
Mitogens trigger [[signal transduction]] pathways in which [[mitogen-activated protein kinase]] is involved, leading to mitosis.
==Use in immunology==
[[plasma cell|Plasma B cells]] can enter mitosis when they encounter an [[antigen]] matching their [[Antibody|immunoglobulin]].
Mitogens are often used to stimulate [[lymphocyte]]s and therefore assess immune function.
The most commonly used mitogens in clinical laboratory medicine are:
{| class="wikitable"
| '''Name''' || '''Acts upon [[T cell]]s?''' || '''Acts upon [[B cell]]s?'''
|-
| [[phytohaemagglutinin]] (PHA) || yes || no
|-
| [[concanavalin A]] (conA) || yes || no
|-
| [[lipopolysaccharide]] (LPS) || yes || yes
|-
| [[pokeweed mitogen]] (PWM) || yes || yes
|}
[[Lipopolysaccharide]] [[toxin]] from [[gram-negative bacteria]] is [[thymus]] independent. They may directly activate B cells, regardless of their [[antigen]]ic [[Specificity (tests)|specificity]].
[[Plasma cell]]s are terminally [[Cellular differentiation|differentiated]] and therefore cannot undergo mitosis. [[Memory B cell]]s can proliferate to produce more memory cells or plasma B cells. This is how the mitogen works, by inducing mitosis in B cells to cause them to divide, with some becoming plasma cells.
==Other uses==
Mitogens also induce the activity of the [[PTGS2]] [[enzyme]].
==External links==
*{{MeshName|Mitogens}}
*{{eMedicineDictionary|Mitogen}}
{{biochem-stub}}
{{Lectins}}
[[Category:Mitosis]]
[[Category:Biomolecules]]
[[Category:Immunology]]
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