T-Cell Growth Factor and the Culture of Cloned Functional T Cells

Abstract

Publisher Summary Detailed studies have indicated that the production of T-cell growth factor (TCGF) is augmented by macrophage-derived lymphocyte-activating factor (LAF). Since the effects of LAF are concentration dependent, and because T-cell clonal expansion is TCGF-concentration dependent, the magnitude of the resultant T-cell immune response is necessarily dictated by the available quantities of these lymphokines. that Minor alterations in the production or action of LAF and TCGF may result in major changes in T-cell proliferation that may have physiological and pathological relevance. A T-cell proliferative response to antigedlectin is actually mediated by a soluble protein TCGF. The T-cell proliferative response results from the interaction of at least three distinct cell types. As antigen or lectin is introduced to a mixed become “activated.” This results in at least three responses: release of LAF from monocytes and macrophages; under the influence of LAF, the release of TCGF by a specific T-cell subset; and binding of TCGF by separate T-cell subsets resulting in the proliferative response. Three signals are involved in the elicitation of TCGF release from TCGF producer cells: lectin or antigen cell membrane binding, Zr gene products, and LAF. The relative importance of these signals and their sequence of application to the T-cell have yet to be delineated. This chapter discusses clonal derivation and maintenance of functional T-cell lines. The latter include the clonal derivation of T-cell lines, cytolytic T-cell lines, helper T-cell lines, suppressor T-cell lines, and neoplastic T-cells and TCGF. Because LAF and TCGF both appear to interact with their target cells by means of specific membrane-binding sites, alterations of the active sites of these hormone-like factors, or their receptors, may lead to alterations in immunocyte function.