Identification of two distinct factors, B151-TRF1 and B151-TRF2, inducing differentiation of activated B cells and small resting B cells into antibody-producing cells.

We demonstrated previously that cellfree supernatant of the B151K12 T cell hybridoma (B151-CFS) contained T cell-replacing factor (here in after referred to as B151-TRF1) capable of inducing growth and differentiation of antigen-activated B cells into antigen-specific plaque-forming cells (PFC). In the present study, we have identified in B151-CFS another unique lymphokine activity (referred to as B151-TRF2), which induces polyclonal differentiation of unstimulated B cells into IgM-secreting cells without concomitant stimulation of antigen, mitogen, or anti-Ig antibody. The B151-TRF2 activity induced polyclonal IgM PFC responses via the action on surface Ig-positive small resting B cells from normal unprimed mice. This activation was effective across an H-2 barrier, and apparently independent of the presence of T cells and accessory cells. Interestingly, the B151-TRF2 activity notably stimulated B cells of neonatal and mutant DBA/2Ha mice, which are nonresponders to B151-TRF1, whereas it failed to activate the xid B cells from CBA/N mice. To substantiate that B151-TRF1 and B151-TRF2 activities are mediated by mutually distinguishable molecules, an absorption experiment of B151-CFS was performed by utilizing DBA/2Ha B cells which are lacking in B151-TRF1 receptor. It was found that DBA/2Ha B cells could absorb B151-TRF2 activity but not B151-TRF1 activity. In contrast, murine chronic B cell leukemia BCL1 cells, which were shown to differentiate into IgM-secreting cells by stimulation with B151-CFS, selectively removed B151-TRF1 activity but not B151-TRF2 activity. Furthermore, biochemical analysis revealed that the B151-TRF2 was a heat (56 degrees C for 30 min)-sensitive protein with an apparent m.w. of 30,000 by gel filtration, whereas B151-TRF1 was a heat-resistant glycoprotein with m.w. of 50,000. In addition, it was shown that prostaglandin E2 selectively inhibited B151-TRF2-mediated B cell responses. These results demonstrate clearly that B151-TRF1 and B151-TRF2 are distinct B cell differentiation factors involved in the different activation pathways of distinct B cell subpopulations. The immunologic implication of B151-TRF2 activity in B cell differentiation is discussed in comparison with other lymphokines so far reported to activate small resting B cells.