INVITRO GROWTH OF MURINE T-CELLS .1. PRODUCTION OF FACTORS NECESSARY FOR T-CELL GROWTH

Abstract

Supernatants of murine lymphoid cultures stimulated with concanavalin [Con] A contain factor(s) capable of sustaining continuous growth of murine lymphoid cells in vitro. Methods for the optimal generation of these growth factors (GM) were defined, including number of cells required, optimal concentration of Con A, incubation time, and strain differences in GM production. With GM, cells were grown for over 15 ten-fold generations over a 2-mo. period. The growing cells express the .theta. surface marker and do not express surface Ia [immune response-associated] antigens.