> Hi there. Could someone give me a full and thorough definition of what
> a mitogen is? I've looked through numerous books and articles but still
> haven't found a solid explanation of the concept. Thanks for your time!
A mitogen, as the name implies, is simply a substance that induces
mitosis, i.e. causes cells to divide and proliferate. Most mitogenic
substances are specific for certain types of cells. For example the
lectins Concanavalin-A (Con-A) or Phytohemagglutinin (PHA) are mitogenic
for T-lymphocytes. Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a mitogen for
B-lymphocytes. Hope that helps.
--Dom Spinella
