Fibroblasts mediate T cell survival: a proposed mechanism for retention of primed T cells.
This report describes a salvage pathway whereby activated T lymphocytes revert to nonproliferating cells in the absence of antigen or mitogenic signals. After the removal of mitogenic cytokines, cultured T lymphocytes cease dividing and rapidly begin to undergo cell death. However, the addition of fibroblasts to interleukin 2 (IL-2)-propagated T cells results in prolonged survival of the previously activated T lymphocytes in the absence of proliferation. The prevention of cell death is also achieved by conditioned medium from the fibroblasts. T lymphocytes cultured with fibroblasts or the conditioned medium retain the ability to be restimulated if mitogenic stimuli are added to the culture. The activity is not accounted for by IL-1-7. The studies suggest a stromal cell-mediated, nonspecific mechanism for survival of primed T lymphocytes in a nonproliferating state.
Scott
S
S
Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston 02114.
Pandolfi
F
F
Kurnick
J T
JT
D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003470:Culture Media; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D007378:Interleukins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000473:pathology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
D003470:Culture Media; D007376:Interleukin-2; D007378:Interleukins