Release of E-rosette augmenting factor (E-RAF) after stimulation of human leukocytes with mitogens or antigens

Stimulation of human peripheral blood leukocytes (HPBL) with mitogens such as phytohemagglutinin or concanavalin A increases the total number of lymphocytes that form rosettes with sheep erythrocytes. A similar effect is seen when HPBL from skin test-positive, but not skin test-negative, donors are stimulated by a specific antigen. It was also found that the culture fluids from mitogen-stimulated lymphocytes contained a substance that significantly increased the percentage of E-rosette forming cells (85 to 95%) over that of control culture fluids (40%). A similar phenomenon was also observed with supernatant fluids derived from antigenic stimulation of cells from skin test-positive donors, but not from skin test-negative subjects. The factor that produces this effect has been designated E-rosette augmenting factor (E-RAF). It is nondialyzable; it appears in the supernatants of antigen or mitogen-stimulated cells within 12 hr; and its production is not blocked by mitomycin C. It is produced by cells that do not adhere to glass wool columns and by mitogen-stimulated thymocytes. Sephadex G-100 chromatography showed that mitogen-induced E-RAF eluted from the column in advance of antigen-induced E-RAF. E-RAF has many properties that are characteristic of lymphokines.