Synergistic effects of B cell mitogen Staphylococcus bacteria strain Cowan I (Cowan I) plus T cell mitogens in generating immunoglobulin-secreting cells (ISC) from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNC) were investigated. ISC were assayed by reverse plaque-forming cells with protein A-coated red blood cells. Low concentrations of pokeweed mitogen (PWM) plus Cowan I gave superadditive effects on ISC induction, generating 3 to 10 times as many ISC as optimal amounts of either mitogen alone. The mitogens together and separately showed similar kinetics of ISC; synergy was observed at every day tested. Plaque-forming cells of IgM, IgG, and IgA classes all showed strong synergy, together routinely representing 20% of initial MNC. At day 7 of culture, over 80% of non-E-rosetting cells were ISC. Cell donors tested gave these strong responses even if they were low responders to either mitogen alone. Cowan I plus other T cell mitogens, PHA, Con A, and protein A, also provided good signals for B cell activation. Cowan I induced marked proliferation of purified B cells, but T cell-helper signals were required for differentiation to ISC. T cell-helper factor, induced by PWM or PHA, also showed synergistic effects with Cowan I in induction of ISC. Purified B cells did not respond to T cell-helper factor(s) alone to proliferate or differentiate to ISC. These results indicate that optimal ISC induction occurs with a B cell mitogen plus T cell signals acting synergistically.