Transferrin binding by mitogen-activated human peripheral blood lymphocytes

Membrane binding of transferrin in the form of purified solution or in normal human serum was demonstrated by the use of immunohistological techniques in mitogenactivated human peripheral blood lymphocytes but not in unstimulated lymphocytes or cells exposed to nonmitogenic lectin. The percentage of cells in which transferrin binding was detected was found to correlate significantly with the degree of lymphocyte DNA synthesis in response to activation, both in dose-response and time-course studies. The data obtained provide evidence that the transferrin-binding reaction in such cells involves a specific membrane receptor of high affinity.