Characterization of pig T cell growth factor and its species-restricted activity on human, mouse and sheep cells

Crude T cell growth factor was prepared from pig blood cells in mixed lymphocyte culture together with Concanavalin A. The TCGF was recovered from the crude supernatant by ammonium sulphate precipitation and fractionated by gel exclusion chromatography to yield active fractions corresponding to an apparent molecular weight of 23,000d. The TCGF was further purified by isoelectric focussing and was found to migrate as a single peak of pI 5 - 5.5. The crude preparation was found to support the growth of mouse and sheep activated cells but had no effect on human activated cells. Human TCGF supported the continued growth of activated pig cells whereas mouse and sheep TCGF had no such effect.