B cell stimulatory factor-2 is involved in the differentiation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes.
The induction of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) from precursor T cells requires both antigen and lymphokine signals. Previous work from our laboratory has indicated that three lymphokines are required for the induction of CTL from murine thymocytes; interleukin 2, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), and a partially characterized factor referred to as cytotoxic differentiation factor (CDF). While attempting to clone CDF from the human T cell line C10-MJ2, we found that a gene encoding CDF-like activity is identical to the gene encoding the factor known variously as B cell stimulatory factor-2 (BSF-2), IFN-beta 2, and 26-kDa protein. We report here that BSF-2 can induce the differentiation of Ly-2+ CTL from murine thymocytes in the presence of interleukin 2 and that the level of cytotoxicity is augmented by the addition of murine IFN-gamma. Serine esterase, a marker for cytotoxic granules in CTL, was induced only in the presence of BSF-2, and the level of serine esterase activity correlated with the level of serine esterase activity correlated with the level of cytotoxicity. These data suggest that BSF-2 is a differentiation factor for CTL and that it functions in part by inducing proteins required for mediating target cell lysis.
Takai
Y
Y
Department of Pathology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02115.
Wong
G G
GG
Clark
S C
SC
Burakoff
S J
SJ
Herrmann
S H
SH
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D005260:Female; D015850:Interleukin-6; D007378:Interleukins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D055646:Killer Factors, Yeast; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010641:Phenotype; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000145:classification / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism
D015850:Interleukin-6; D007378:Interleukins; D055646:Killer Factors, Yeast; D011506:Proteins