PEDIATRICS Vol. 38 No. 3 September 1966, pp. 490-493
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow E-mail this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My File Cabinet
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Barker, B. E.
Right arrow Articles by LaMarche, P. H.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Barker, B. E.
Right arrow Articles by LaMarche, P. H.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us   Add to Digg   Add to Facebook   Add to Reddit   Add to Technorati   Add to Twitter  
What's this?

PERIPHERAL BLOOD PLASMACYTOSIS FOLLOWING SYSTEMIC EXPOSURE TO PHYTOLACCA AMERICANA (POKEWEED)

B. E. Barker Ph.D.1, P. Farnes M.D.1, and P. H. LaMarche M.D.1

1 Departments of Pathology and Pediatrics, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island

MITOGENIC properties of extracts from Phytolacca americana (pokeweed, scoke, inkberry) for human peripheral blood cells in vitro have been reported from this laboratory. Subsequently, the appearance of leukocytes typical of early and late members of the plasmacytic series was described in the peripheral bloods of two of the authors (P.F. and B.E.B.), who received accidental systemic exposure to the mitogen. Effects of phytomitogens on human cells in vivo are not established, although a number of investigators have administered phytohemagglutinin from Phaseolus vulgaris to patients with aplastic anemia, hoping that the "transformed" lymphocytes might possess hematopoietic potentialities and repopulate the marrow with useful cells. Interpretations of such studies have been complicated by the small numbers of patients studied, the natural course of this group of anemias, simultaneous use of other therapy, and other variables.

More information has been accumulated about the effects of phytomitogens on peripheral blood cells in vitro. The process of "transformation" or blastogenesis of lymphocytes, whether induced by plant extracts or specific antigenic stimuli, appears to involve an immune mechanism, although morphologic differentiation toward the plasmacytic series is not seen in the in vitro environment.

Recently, we have had the opportunity to study serial blood films from children who received systemic exposure to pokeberry, either through proven oral ingestion (berries recovered from vomitus), or by exposure of fresh cuts and abrasions to pokeberry juice in the course of handling the berries. In each of these instances large cells morphologically typical of plasmablasts and proplasmacytes, and mature plasma cells were found in the peripheral blood films for periods up to 2 weeks following exposure. Mitotic cells were present in the peripheral blood during the first 10 days after exposure (Fig. 1 and 2).

Submitted on February 1, 1966
Accepted on April 22, 1966


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Facebook Facebook   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to Technorati Technorati   Add to Twitter Twitter    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 JAMAHome page
W. H. Lewis and P. R. Smith
Poke Root Herbal Tea Poisoning
JAMA, December 21, 1979; 242(25): 2759 - 2760.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 ScienceHome page
N. I. Abdou and N. L. Abdou
Bone Marrow: The Bursa Equivalent in Man?
Science, January 28, 1972; 175(4020): 446 - 448.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 ScienceHome page
L. S. Kind and W. A. Petersen
Concanavalin A in vivo: Induction of Hemorrhagic Skin Lesions (Arthus-Like Reactions) in Mice
Science, April 19, 1968; 160(3825): 312 - 313.
[Abstract] [PDF]