L428 cells derived from Hodgkin's disease produce E rosette-inhibiting factor

Diminished rosetting capacity of T cells is a well-known phenomenon in Hodgkin's disease, and inhibitors of E rosette formation have been reported to be present in the plasma of patients with Hodgkin's disease. The cell line L428, representing an in vitro counterpart of Hodgkin and Sternberg-Reed cells, could be shown to release a factor capable of suppressing the binding of sheep red blood cells (SRBC) to normal peripheral-blood T lymphocytes or to a T-cell line (L735). At maximally effective concentrations, RIF (rosette inhibiting factor) inhibited T lymphocyte rosetting by approximately 40% (mean from 184 healthy controls). The diminished E rosetting of T lymphocytes from Hodgkin's patients was not further suppressed by added RIF. This factor inhibited binding of SRBC to their target cells at 37 degrees C but not at 4 degrees C. The factor could be stored lyophilized at -20 degrees C and was stable at 56 degrees C (30 minutes). RIF was inactive below pH 6 and above pH 9 or after trypsin digestion. Purification by affinity, ion exchange, and molecular sieve chromatography showed activity peaks at 12.5 Kd, 25 Kd, 50 Kd, and 100 Kd.