Monocyte procoagulant inducing factor: a lymphokine involved in the T cell-instructed monocyte procoagulant response to antigen.

Abstract A T cell-derived lymphokine couples the recognition of alloantigens by human T inducer cells to monocyte effector procoagulant activity (PCA). This collaborative cellular response results in expression of the functional tissue factor gene product and initiation of the extrinsic coagulation protease cascade as an inflammatory sequelae to the immune response. We now provide initial characterization of this lymphokine, provide evidence that it is a unique lymphokine, and designate it as monocyte procoagulant inducing factor (MPIF). MPIF was produced by alloantigen-stimulated, nylon wool-purified T cells and was not diminished by irradiation. MPIF active supernatants induced PCA in isolated monocytes, and the effect was not modified by the presence of T cells with the responding monocytes, consistent with a direct effect on the monocyte effector cells rather than an indirect effect via an intermediate accessory T cell. Full expression of PCA by monocytes was complete within 4 to 6 hours. MPIF activity in mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC) supernatants (MLC-SN) was stable at pH 2.0 for 24 hr, but was diminished after exposure to pH 10.5 for 30 min. MPIF activity was stable at 56 degrees C but was labile at 63 degrees C or higher. When characterized by chromatography on Sephadex G-100 superfine at either pH 7.2 or 3.6, the activity was recovered in a major discrete peak of about 55,000 daltons, and minor peaks of activity at about 14,000 and greater than 150,000 daltons. There was no correlation between the presence or concentration of INF-gamma, INF-alpha, IL 1, IL 2, GM-CSF, CSF-1, TNF-alpha, TNF-beta (lymphotoxin), or migration inhibitory factor (MIF) with MPIF activity. Each of the previously defined cytokines was analyzed directly for MPIF activity. INF-gamma, INF-alpha, GM-CSF, TNF-alpha, and CSF-1 did not possess MPIF activity over a wide range of concentrations. IL 1 and IL 2 lacked activity at concentrations present in MLC medium positive for MPIF; however, at higher concentrations each demonstrated slight activity. There was a poor correlation between MPIF and MIF activities in MLC-SN, and the content of MIF was insufficient to account for the expressed level of MPIF activity. The lack of identity of these cytokines with MPIF was supported by selected MLC medium that lacked IL 1, IL 2, and MIF and yet contained high MPIF activity. MPIF was additionally distinguished from IL 1, IL 2, and MIF on the basis of separation in Sephadex G-100 superfine. The major 55,000 to 60,000 dalton form of MPIF was usually devoid of IL 1, IL 2, CSF-1, GM-CSF, MIF, and TNF-alpha or -beta activities. Furthermore, T inducer clones produced MPIF, MIF, and IFN independently in response to stimulation by alloantigen. These studies identify and provide initial characterization of human MPIF as a unique lymphokine that is rapidly synthesized by stimulated T cells and that in turn rapidly induces expression of the tissue factor gene product in cells of the monocyte lineagea s a discrete aspect of the cellular immune response.