Regulation of growth of human diploid fibroblasts by factors elaborated by activated lymphoid cells.

Fibroblasts growth synthesis activities appear to be under exquisite control. This control is mediated in part by substances present in blood plasma or released by other cells. We have studied the role of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBM) activated with phytohemagglutinin-P (PHA) on DNA synthesis, proliferation, and the cell cycle of human diploid fibroblasts. Culture medium from activated but not from unactivated PBM cultures inhibited fibroblast DNA synthesis and growth in a dose-dependent manner. The activity, which was designated as lymphocyte factor (LF), was very potent; it inhibited 50% of the DNA synthesis and cell growth at a dilution of 1:160. It has a molecular weight between 50,000 and 100,000 daltons and it is destroyed by trypsin digestion or by heating at 80 degrees C for 30 minutes. The activity was not due to the presence of prostaglandin. Furthermore, using immunoprecipitation and affinity chromatography, it was shown conclusively to to be distinctly different from alpha lymphotoxin (alpha-LT). It was not cytotoxic, as shown by the 51chromium release technique. Using flow microfluorimetry it was shown that the activity regulates fibroblast growth by preventing quiescent cells in the G0 or G1 stage of the cell cycle from entering the S phase. Cells already in S at the time of exposure complete DNA synthesis but cannot divide, and they accumulate in G2. The activity also has marked effects on protein synthesis. Activated mononuclear cells may play a major role in regulating fibroblast growth and synthesis in normally healing wounds and in acute and chronic inflammatory processes.