Expression of c-myc in stimulated T lymphocytes of the helper/inducer phenotype producing lymphokine(s) supporting multilineage colony formation.
Phytohemagglutinin (PHA) renders human peripheral T lymphocytes competent to replicate their DNA and divide. The stimulation of peripheral T cells of the T4 phenotype by PHA, which appears to be a transcription-dependent event, leads to the production and release of lymphokines supporting proliferation and differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells (CFU-GEMMT). Supernatants of PHA-stimulated lymphocytes of the suppressor/cytotoxic phenotype (T8) failed to demonstrate reasonable activity to support the growth of CFU-GEMMT. Stimulation of T lymphocytes of the T4 but not of the T8 phenotype leads to an increased intracellular level of c-myc mRNA. This would be consistent with the c-myc gene product functioning as an intracellular mediator of the growth and lymphokine production response to PHA. Although the function of the c-myc gene product is not yet clear, it seems likely that it is involved in the control of cell proliferation. Such a contribution to control of cell proliferation by c-myc would probably be mediated by a family of genes inducing lymphokine production to stimulate proliferation of human pluripotent stem cells.
D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D009857:Oncogenes; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000502:physiology*
D008222:Lymphokines; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger