title: Analysis of helper activity on pokeweed mitogen- and interleukin 2-driven immunoglobulin synthesis by neoplastic T4+ cells.
abstract: The neoplastic T cells of a series of seven patients with chronic T-cell neoplasia were tested for helper activity on pokeweed mitogen (PWM)-induced and interleukin 2 (IL-2)-induced Ig synthesis. The neoplastic T cells of all patients had a T3+4+8-11+I1- phenotype but differed in expression of the 3A1 antigen. The neoplastic T cells of three patients had helper activity on both PWM- and IL-2-driven Ig synthesis, and in addition produced IL-2 in response to PWM stimulation. Two of these patients had hypergammaglobulinemia. In contrast, the neoplastic T cells in the remaining four patients did not produce IL-2 and did not support PWM-driven Ig synthesis. The T4+ cells of these four patients, however, provided excellent helper activity on IL-2-driven Ig synthesis. These findings emphasize the role of IL-2 in T cell-dependent Ig synthesis and clearly show that IL-2 production is required for helper activity in the PWM-driven system. It is concluded that the combined use of PWM- and IL-2-driven Ig synthesis systems allows separate analysis of IL-2 production and T-helper activity in health and disease.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects*; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006942:Hypergammaglobulinemia / Q000276:immunology; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D007938:Leukemia / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D012751:Sezary Syndrome / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens