THE DISSOCIATION OF INTERLEUKIN-2 PRODUCTION AND ANTIGEN-SPECIFIC HELPER ACTIVITY BY CLONAL ANALYSIS

  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 50  (3) , 397-405
Abstract
Influenza virus immune human T-lymphocyte clones maintained in continuous culture in T cell growth factor were analyzed for helper activity and interleukin-2 (IL-2) production. The clones that functioned as helper cells in the production of specific antibody failed to release detectable amounts of IL-2. Conversely, the T cells that produced IL-2 were unable to provide either specific or non-specific helper function. These findings indicated the IL-2 is not an essential component for helper activity. Phenotypic analysis revealed that both the functional subsets of T cell clones expressed the helper phenotype in that they were T4+, T3+ and T11+. Nevertheless analysis with other antibodies revealed differences in that the IL-2 releasing clone showed greater staining with the anti-T-cell subset antibodies 9.3 and Leu 8, confirming that there is phenotype as well as functional heterogeneity within the helper inducer T cell population.