Production of Lymphotoxin, a Bone-Resorbing Cytokine, by Cultured Human Myeloma Cells

Abstract

Myeloma cells destroy bone by producing an osteoclast-stimulating factor that has chemical and biological characteristics similar to the bone-resorbing activity present in the supernatants of activated leukocyte cultures. Recently, a number of bone-resorbing leukocyte cytokines have been identified, including interleukin-1, lymphotoxin, and tumor necrosis factor. We have examined the products of human myeloma cells for the presence of these bone-resorbing cytokines.