Human polymorphonuclear leucocyte migration inhibitory factor. Evidence for antigen dependency.

Sudies were performed on human polymorphonuclear leucocyte migration inhibitory factor (PMN-MIF) to determine its antigen dependence. PMN-MIF produced by lymphocytes in response to purified protein derivative or coccidiodin was measured in an agarose gel system with buffy coat leucocytes as indicator cells. PMN-MIF activity contained in the lymphocyte supernatants uniformly disappeared when the supernatants were diluted 1:50 with medium; the inhibitory activity was only restored when the diluted supernatants were reconstituted with specific antigen. PMN-MIF isolated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed the same properties as PMN-MIF present in whole supernatants. This factor consistently migrated in the albumin region on gel electrophoresis. These data indicate that human PMN-MIF is antigen-dependent.