T cell subsets and their lymphokines.
The general biological properties of T cell related lymphokines are reviewed here. In particular the stimulatory function of IL-3 on a subset of T cells isolated from the peripheral blood of a normal individual was demonstrated. These cells were CD4 and CD8 negative and expressed the alpha/beta T cell receptor instead of the expected gamma/delta heterodimer. Previously IL-3 has been described to induce the growth of hemopoietic cells, chiefly progenitor cells and mast cells. Moreover IL-7, a newly cloned lymphokine, was found to support the growth and expansion of the human nature T cells. Either T cell clones phenotype and function, or resting T cells were stimulated by IL-7. Finally, the lymphokine production by the T cell clones which have or not cytotoxic capacity was analysed. Different amounts of mRNA transcripts and translated proteins were produced by the two types of T cell clones. This could represent an important tool with which to classify T cells having a function unrelated to the membrane phenotype.
De Berardinis
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Istituto di Bioproteine ed Enzimologia, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Naples, Italy.
D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D053804:Granzymes; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007377:Interleukin-3 / Q000494:pharmacology; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000032:analysis; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000378:metabolism
D007377:Interleukin-3; D008222:Lymphokines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D053804:Granzymes; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; C509212:GZMA protein, human