title: Human autologous rosette-forming cells. IV. Functional role in T-cell activation.
abstract: Human autorosette-forming cells (auto-RFC), which represent a T4/leu 3a+ cell subset, were investigated for their functional role in T-cell activation. Peripheral blood lymphocytes from healthy subjects either remained unfractionated or were separated into recovered or depleted auto-RFC populations. The phytohemagglutinin P stimulation of these three cell suspensions induced normal levels of proliferation, whereas the pokeweed mitogen activation was significantly decreased in the auto-RFC-depleted population compared to the auto-RFC-recovered subset or unfractionated cells. All three cell suspensions produced IL-2 in response to PHA stimulation. However the levels of lymphokine released were significantly lower in the recovered auto-RFC fraction than in the depleted auto-RFC. After activation, using anti-Tac antibodies, the synthesis of IL-2 receptors was evidenced in all the cell fractions regardless of the presence or absence of auto-RFC. In addition, both auto-RFC absorbed IL-2 activity from a reference supernatant. Taken together, these data suggest that auto-RFC can be expanded by T-cell mitogens, and that once activated, they express IL-2 receptors, but represent a minor source of IL-2 production.
mesh_terms: D002469:Cell Separation; D006801:Humans; D007163:Immunosorbent Techniques; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D012397:Rosette Formation; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2