title: Characterization of functional T-cell lines derived from MRL mice.
abstract: In an effort to characterize further the role of T cells in the autoimmune disease of MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr (lpr) mice, continuous cell lines were established from spleen and lymph nodes using EL-4 lymphoma supernatants as a source of T-cell growth factor(s). Five lines were derived from lpr spleen and lymph nodes, and an equal number from MRL/Mp- +/+ (+/+). All of the lines lost their alloreactivity after a short time in culture. Surprisingly, every line manifested marked proliferation in response to autologous irradiated spleen cells. This response was restricted to I-Ak, as it was blocked with monoclonal anti-I-Ak antibodies, and as B10.A(4R) accessory cells were stimulatory while B10.A(3R) were not. There was no difference in the degree of stimulation from lpr accessory cells compared to that in those from +/+ or other H-2k mice. The T-cell lines bore Thy-1, Ly-1, L3T4, and 7D4 (interleukin 2 (IL-2) receptor), but lacked Ly-2 and surface Ig. They proliferated in response to both conventional and recombinant DNA-derived IL-2. When cocultured with Ia-identical B cells, the T-cell lines provoked B-cell division and antibody production. The cells also caused intense proliferation when cultured with freshly isolated lpr (but not +/+) lymph node cells. The results indicate that lpr lymphoid tissue contains functional T cells reactive to autologous Ia molecules and capable of inducing both B-cell activation and the proliferation of lpr lymphocytes. Such cells may be of importance in inducing hypergammaglobulinemia, autoantibody production, and lymphoproliferation in these SLE mice.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002460:Cell Line; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D007377:Interleukin-3; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice / Q000235:genetics*; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000032:analysis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D007377:Interleukin-3; D008222:Lymphokines; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell