Genes affecting the production or action of B cell-active lymphokines.

Abstract

Lymphokines are soluble polypeptides that appear to play important roles in controlling the immune system. The activation, proliferation, and differentiation of many cell types, including B lymphocytes (for reviews, see Holler 1984), are affected by these molecules in vitro. Tumor B cells differ from their nontransformed counterparts by virtue of their heightened proliferation and transplantability. Nevertheless, different activities of specific tumor B cell lines can still be regulated by lymphokines or other signals. A discussion of lymphokines is thus pertinent to the topic of B cell neoplasia in three ways. First, understanding the operation of lymphokines that regulate B cell development and function may yield insights into the cell populations giving rise to B cell neoplasia or the circumstances under which this occurs. Second, lymphokines may be important in controlling the fate and activity of transformed B cells in a tumor-bearing animal. Third, deliberate manipulation of the lymphokine system may eventually offer one or more modes of treatment for patients with B cell neoplasia.