Production of macrophage activating factor by cytolytic and noncytolytic T lymphocyte clones.

Abstract

Antigen-stimulated lymphoid populations release a soluble mediator(s), macrophage activating factor (MAF), which acts synergistically with nonactivating doses of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to render macrophages nonspecifically tumoricidal (1–3). With the development of in vitro cloning techniques, it is now possible to examine directly the T lymphocytes which produce this and other lymphokines (4–9). Here we describe the phenotypes, antigen stimulation requirements and characteristics of lymphokine production by 72 clones generated against H-2, Mls, H-Y or Moloney leukemia virus (MoLV)-associated antigens.