Production of a B cell growth-promoting activity, (DL)BCGF, from a cloned T cell line and its assay on the BCL1 B cell tumor.

Culture supernatants from a long-term alloreactive T cell line, the Dennert line C.C3.11.75 (DL) contain a B cell-growth-promoting activity. This activity can be assayed on normal B cells or on the in vivo BCL1 tumor line. We have called this activity (DL)BCGF. This activity can be distinguished from the T cell-replacing factor activity we had earlier found in DL supernates (DL)TRF, which is required together with IL2 for the B cell plaque-forming cell response to erythrocyte antigens. The (DL)BCGF can be absorbed on untreated or glutaraldehyde-fixed BCL1. This absorption does not remove (DL)TRF activity. The production of (DL)BCGF is greatly enhanced when DL is cultured with IL2-containing supernatants. Sublines or clones of DL (DL.B10 and DL.A4) have been obtained that make large amounts of (DL)BCGF in the absence of any stimulator cells or IL2. B cells from the Xid-deficient male (DBA/2 X CBA/N)F1 mice do not respond to (DL)BCGF.