Purification of murine T cell growth factor. A lymphocyte mitogen with helper activity.

Mouse T cell growth factor was purified from the serum-free conditioned medium of lectin-stimulated spleen cells. A 3,000-fold purification was achieved with a final yield of 12%. The purified protein, with an apparent Mr of 23,000 by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, was active at concentrations of 4 x 10(-11) M, both in the T cell growth factor and T cell replacing factor assays. In addition, purified T cell growth factor alone was mitogenic for spleen cells from both nude and normal mice.