OKT4+ and OKT8+ T lymphocytes produce soluble factors that can modulate growth and differentiation of human B cells.

The human T cell subset(s) responsible for the production of soluble factors that can modulate B cell growth and B cell differentiation was investigated in the present study. For this purpose, highly purified OKT4+ and OKT8+ lymphocytes were stimulated with phytohaemagglutinin and phorbol myristate acetate. Subsequently, culture supernatants were analysed for B cell growth factor (BCGF) activity and B cell differentiation factor (BCDF) activity in the following systems: 1) maintenance of a proliferative state of Staphylococcus aureus of strain Cowan I (SAC)-stimulated B cells and 2) induction of plaque-forming cell responses of SAC-stimulated B cells. Mitogenic stimulation led to production of equivalent amounts of either BCGF activity or BCDF activity from both of the OKT4+ and OKT8+ subsets. These findings may provide a basis for further studies of the molecular mechanisms as well as cellular interactions involved in human B cell activation, proliferation and differentiation.