In the resting rate, the human peripheral blood lymphocytes did not show detectable surface and intracellular receptors for human lactotransferrin. However, both types of lactotransferrin receptors were expressed during stimulation of lymphocytes with phytohemagglutinin. The appearance of receptors was time‐dependent and the number of receptors reached a plateau after at least two days of mitogen stimulation. These results suggest that the presence of surface receptors on mitogen‐stimulated lymphocytes is not consecutive to a modification of subcellular distribution but to an induction of biosynthesis of the receptors. As measured by incorporation of [³H]thymidine into DNA, addition of human lactotransferrin in a serum‐free medium increased the proliferative activity of phytohemagglutinin‐stimulated lymphocytes. Optimal enhancement of [³H]thymidine incorporation was obtained by adding 30% iron‐saturated lactotransferrin at a concentration of 0.17 μM. Therefore, the role of lactotransferrin in the response of lymphocytes to mitogen stimulation appears to be similar to that previously described for serotransferrin.

The lactotransferrin receptor was visualized using ¹²⁵I‐labeled lactotransferrin on nitrocellulose paper after electroblotting of the Triton X‐100 extract of the phytohemagglutinin‐stimulated lymphocytes as two protein bands of 100 and 110 kDa molecular mass.

Purification of the lactotransferrin receptor from the Triton‐X‐100‐soluble extract of stimulated lymphocytes was performed by antiligand‐affinity chromatography. The binding of lactotransferrin to the purified receptors was reversible and dependent on concentration and pH.