The lymphocyte chemoattractant factor.

The LCF is a unique interleukin without significant homology to other interleukins or chemokines. It is a chemoattractant factor for all CD4+ cells and either uses CD4 as its receptor or utilizes a cell surface complex of molecules for which there is an absolute requirement for the presence of CD4. In addition to its chemoattractant activity, it is a growth factor for CD4+ T cells, inducing resting cells to enter G1, as evidenced by the expression of MHC II molecules and IL-2R. Once induced by LCF to express IL-2R, CD4+ T cells become competent to respond to LCF and progress through the cell cycle to proliferation. LCF's activity on CD4 cells defines a role for CD4 on the eosinophil and monocyte and broadens the scope of functions of CD4 on the T cell. In this regard it may have importance in human disease states that are characterized by increased numbers of activated CD4+ cells, such as sarcoidosis, rheumatoid arthritis, or asthma. Likewise, it may play a key role in monocyte and eosinophil chemotaxis into tissues, being important in the latter in concert with hematopoietic factors that increase the available eosinophil pool.