Identification of a unique B-cell-stimulating factor produced by a cloned dendritic cell.

We describe a cloned dendritic cell, clone Den-1, which is a potent accessory cell for some B-cell responses. Clone Den-1 produces a unique lymphokine that induces polyclonal B-cell proliferation in the absence of other costimulators. This clone or factors produced by it also stimulate purified B cells to develop plaque-forming cell responses to type 2 antigens. The effect of this factor(s) on various B-cell populations and its relationship to previously described B-cell-stimulating factors is discussed.