title: Continuous proliferation of murine antigen-specific helper T lymphocytes in culture.
abstract: Murine helper T cells activated to sheep or horse erythrocyte antigens in vivo have been established as continuous cell lines in culture. T cells require the presence of a T-cell growth factor (TCGF) for continuous proliferation. TCGF purified from murine, rat, or human sources all stimulate murine T-cell growth. The T-cell mitogens concanavalin A and phytohemagglutinin do not stimulate cell proliferation in continuous T-cell lines. All cells that grow in the presence of TCGF express Thy-1 antigens. Helper activity of T-cell lines is both antigen specific and effective for syngeneic or F1 B cells. Supernates from T-cell lines do not contain antigen-specific or nonspecific helper factors. Although several T-cell lines have shown stable helper activity for greater than 50 wk in culture, other cell lines have shown a gradual decline in effector function. The procedure used to establish and maintain proliferation of T cells in culture should be suitable for the selection and growth of antigen-specific effector T cells from each subclass.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D002455:Cell Division; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D000939:Epitopes; D006133:Growth Substances; D006183:H-2 Antigens; D006801:Humans; D007519:Isoantigens / Q000032:analysis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008211:Lymphocyte Cooperation; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D051381:Rats; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D000939:Epitopes; D006133:Growth Substances; D006183:H-2 Antigens; D007519:Isoantigens