ABSTRACT
When lymphocytes are placed in culture, their dormant behavior usually continues. Under such conditions, protein, RNA, and DNA synthesis is minimal and difficult to measure or quantitate. Under such conditions, protein, RNA, and DNA synthesis is minimal and difficult to measure or quantitate. This purpose of this chapter is to analyze the molecular changes that occur during lymphocyte transformation and the relationship of these changes to the immunologic functions of these cells. The chapter explores selected facets of the field in greater depth emphasizing biochemical studies which use human peripheral lymphocytes. Lymphocytes can be stimulated with defined molecules and the resultant metabolic events can be affected and monitored entirely in vitro. A large body of recent experimental evidence suggests that mammalian peripheral lymphocytes can be divided into subpopulations which are designated as "B" and "T" cells.
