title: Human non-interferon macrophage activating factor: biological and biochemical characterization.
abstract: A HTLV-1 transformed T cell line has been demonstrated to constitutively produce and secrete a lymphokine with macrophage activating properties. This lymphokine was biologically and biochemically distinct from interferon gamma, the interleukins, the colony stimulating factors and lymphotoxin. In vitro treatment of human monocytes with the partially purified lymphokine resulted in the acquisition of microbicidal and tumoricidal activities. The activity was associated with a protein with an apparent molecular weight of 55,000 daltons and an isoelectric point of 5.5. The potential for the efficacy of such a lymphokine in activating macrophages in vivo provides aspirations for its use in the therapy/prevention of opportunistic infections in immunocompromised hosts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology & Antiinfective Therapy, Smith Kline & French Laboratories, Philadelphia, PA 19101.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Badger
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D002474:Cell-Free System; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1; D006801:Humans; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008262:Macrophage Activation; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000628:therapy; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D008222:Lymphokines