Interferon-gamma and growth factor production by murine T cells derived from three different lymphoid tissues

Various antigen-presenting cells and the environment in different lymphoid tissues have been suggested to influence the type of lymphokine produced by T cells. We have investigated the mitogen-induced proliferation, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and growth factor production by cells isolated from spleen, mesenteric and peripheral (axillary, brachial and inguinal) lymph nodes (LN). We found that stimulation with concanavalin A or staphylococcus enterotoxin B induced IFN-gamma synthesis in spleen cells but not in LN cells. Proliferation and growth factor production were comparable in the three cell populations. The addition of the phorbol ester phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), which is commonly used as a substitute for accessory cells, did not influence the IFN-gamma synthesis by LN cells. The growth factor production was, on the other hand, elevated by the addition of PMA. A high number of IFN-gamma-producing peripheral LN cells were obtained if they were stimulated in the presence of splenic adherent cells. The growth factor synthesis was marginally affected by the presence of these cells. Thus, splenic adherent cells provide a co-stimulatory signal to the T cell necessary for IFN-gamma synthesis.