Mitogenic activity of anti-CD28 MoAb CLB-CD28/1 on peripheral blood mononuclear cells and its cooperation with other anti-T cells MoAb in the activation of purified T lymphocytes.

Human T lymphocyte proliferative response induced via CD28 molecule is analyzed. An anti CD28 MoAb, CLB-CD28/1, induces the proliferation of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells in the absence of other stimuli, indicating that CD28 molecule can directly mediate a mitogenic signal in this system. The mitogenic activity of MoAb CLB-CD28/1 on PBMC does not require MoAb interaction with monocyte Fc receptors, since F(ab')2 fragments from the MoAb are mitogenic to the same extent as whole IgG. Nevertheless, the activity depends on the presence of accessory cells, since purified T lymphocytes require addition of irradiated monocytes and interleukin 2 to proliferate when incubated with MoAb CLB-CD28/1. On the other hand, MoAb CLB-CD28/1 induces response to IL-2 in thymocytes in the absence of accessory cells. Cooperation of MoAb CLB-CD28/1 with three other MoAbs, recognizing CD3, CD5 and HLA Class I antigens, respectively, induces Tac antigen expression and IL-2 responsiveness in purified T lymphocytes. This effect is obtained without cross-linking of the MoAb. It does not rely on a physical association between CD28 and CD3, CD5 or HLA Class I molecules, as demonstrated by co-modulation experiments. These data indicate that expression of IL-2 receptor on T lymphocytes can result from interaction of multiple activation pathways and that some of them, such as those mediated by CD5 and HLA Class I antigens, previously reported to serve as modulatory circuits, can instead act as essential elements in the onset of T lymphocyte proliferation.