On the Molecular Basis of T Helper Cell Function |
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| Authors: | B. RUBIN L. REININGER M. SUZAN J. FUERI F. DENIZOT S. LANDOLFO J. G AMBLE P. LONAI |
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| Affiliation: | Centre d'Immunologie INSERM-CNRS de Marseille-Luminy, Marseille, France;Institute of Microbiology. University of Turin, Turin, Italy: Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Vietoria. Australia;and Department of Chemical Immunology, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel |
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| Abstract: | B-lymphocyte promotor factors (B-LPF) are defined as T-cell-derived, released molecules that trigger polyclonal induction of B-cell differentiation into antibody-forming cells. B-LPF activity is independent of antigen, and it apparently induces only IgM-producing B cells. B-LPF was discovered as products of an antigen-specific, I-Ab-restricted T-cell line. We here show that B-LPF is produced also by lymphoma cells derived from this T-cell line or by T-cell hybrids constructed by fusing the T-cell line with BW5147 thymoma cells. A chicken gamma globulin-specific T-cell hybridoma clone also produced B-LPF. Biological assays demonstrated that B-LPF-containing supernatants did not contain IL-1, IL-2, B-cell growth factor, or allogeneic effector factor. Biochemical studies showed that B-LPF was precipitated by 50% (NH4)2SO4 saturation and that at least three types of molecules were involved in B-LPF activity: molecules with molecular weights of greater than 90,000, 50,000-90,000 and 10,000-25,000. The relationship between B-LPF and antigen-specific helper/inducer factors is discussed. |
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