Role of macrophages in the generation of T helper cells. IV. Nature of genetically related factor derived from macrophages incubated with soluble antigens

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Abstract
Macrophages incubated with soluble antigens for 1–4 days release factors capable of inducing T helper cells. The nature and some of the properties of this genetically related macrophage factor (GRF) were investigated. By use of immunoadsorbents, GRF was shown to contain I region‐coded products (Ia antigens) linked to a small antigenic fragment. The genes coding for the Ia antigens detectable in GRF lie in the I region of the H‐2 complex. GRF does not react with anti‐immunoglobulin, anti‐C3 or anti‐human β2‐ microglobulin antisera, and its activity cannot be removed by antigen immunoadsorbents. GRF is heatlabile, sensitive to proteolytic enzymes and has a molecular weight of about 55 000 Daltons. The relationship of GRF to other factors known to contain I region‐coded products and reported to be effective in cell cooperation is discussed.

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