Biologic properties of chromatographically separated murine thymoma-derived Interleukin 2 and colony-stimulating factor.

Two growth factors, interleukin 2 (T cell growth factor) and colony-stimulating factor, are produced concomitantly by a murine EL-4 thymoma cell line after stimulation by phorbol myristate acetate. As shown elsewhere, these thymoma-derived factors appear to be biochemically and functionally indistinguishable from the interleukin 2 and colony-stimulating factor produced by mitogen-stimulated mouse spleen cells. Both factors co-elute during gel filtration with apparent m.w. in the range of 30,000, and both exhibit overlapping isoelectric point profiles between pH 4 and pH 5. Because we were unable to separate these 2 factors by methods based on either m.w. or charge, we have used phenyl-Sepharose chromatography, a method based on hydrophobic interactions, to completely separate murine interleukin 2 and colony-stimulating factor. In contrast with published reports, each of the separated factors exhibits unique biologic activities on lymphocytes and macrophages. Interleukin 2 provides help for antibody synthesis in the nude mouse, but neither enhances interferon production by macrophages nor stimulates macrophage growth. Colony-stimulating factor does not enhance antibody synthesis in the nude mouse but does enhance interferon production by macrophages and stimulate macrophage growth.