Characteristics of colony-stimulating factor production by murine T-lymphocyte clones

From a panel of cloned interleukin-2-dependent murine T-lymphocyte lines, several clones were identified that secreted high titers of one or more of the colony-stimulating factors (CSFs): granulocyte-macrophage CSF, multi-CSF (or interleukin 3), and human eosinophil CSF. These clones were used to examine the parameters of CSF production, including stimuli required, kinetics, serum concentration, and the cell dose and proliferative state of the clone. Maximal production of CSFs and interleukin 2 was stimulated by the lectin concanavalin A, which induced a burst of secretion over a 12- to 20-h period, during which all factors were released at similar rates. CSF production was not stimulated by interleukin 2 and occurred independently of clonal proliferation.