Isolation and characterization of a mouse interleukin cDNA clone that expresses B-cell stimulatory factor 1 activities and T-cell- and mast-cell-stimulating activities.

A cDNA sequence coding for a unique mouse interleukin that expresses B-cell-, T-cell, and mast-cell-stimulating activities has been isolated from a mouse helper T-cell cDNA library. The library, constructed in the pcD expression vector, was screened by transfecting COS monkey cells with DNA pools to express the products encoded by full-length cDNA inserts. By assaying the transfected cell supernatants, we identified clones encoding a factor that stimulates T-cell and mast cell lines. This factor also induces Ia expression on resting B cells and enhances IgG1 and IgE production by B cells, two properties of B-cell-stimulatory factor 1. The DNA sequence codes for a polypeptide of 140 amino acid residues including a putative signal peptide. These results demonstrate that a single cDNA clone distinct from interleukin 2 and interleukin 3 encodes a polypeptide with multiple biological activities.