[Regulatory factors of the cellular immune reaction].

The activation of B-cells can be studied by in vitro experiments. Various stages have been described: activation, proliferation and isotype specific differentiation into plasma cells are regulated by T-cells and macrophages. Their function is in part replaced by soluble factors. The availability of lymphokines derived from cloned T-cells allows a more precise analysis of the various differentiation steps for B-cells. A summary of the various lymphokines obtained from the murine and human system is demonstrated. As has been shown lymphokines reveal immunoregulatory properties which have to be correlated to in vitro results. The various unresolved questions concerning IgE-antibody regulation will be clarified when more defined lymphokines are available.