Mitogenic effect of 12-0 tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate on non-human primate mononuclear cells and in vitro interaction with Epstein-Barr virus transformation

12-0 tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate (TPA), known to promote tumors in mice and also to enhance viral transformation as well as induction of viral antigens, was demonstrated to be mitogenic to peripheral blood mononuclear cells from rhesus monkeys and three species of marmosets. Even though mitogenic responses varied between species and within species, the mitogenic dose response due to TPA was comparable to the response of phytohemagglutinin (PHA-P). A significant synergistic effect of PHA-P and TPA on mononuclear cells from marmosets was evident when they were used together at optimal doses. TPA also increased the efficiency of in vitro transformation of marmoset lymphocytes by Epstein-Barr virus.