Interleukin-3 production as a sensitive measure of T-lymphocyte activation in the mouse.

Interleukin-3 activity is produced by T cells at an early phase after antigenic stimulation, and its quantitation provides a sensitive and non-destructive method for assaying T-cell activation. It can be detected before increased uptake of [3H]thymidine into DNA occurs, and is more sensitive than measuring [3H]thymidine uptake for low levels of T-cell activation. This method has been shown to be useful in measuring activation of T-cell clones and in detecting antigens that have been blotted onto nitrocellulose.