A lymphokine-like factor isolated by deoxycholate from the membrane of human lymphocytes

1. Membranous protein fractions containing carbohydrates were solubilized from human tonsillar lymphocytes in the presence or basence of deoxycholate. The optimal conditions for the detergent treatment, high solubilized protein yield without cell disruption, temperature and time of the treatment and concentration of the detergent were elucidated. 2. The protein fractions inhibited both the mitogen-activated and the nonactivated DNA synthesis in human lymphocyte targets in vitro but did not affect the uptake of [3H]thymidine. The fractions had a slight effect on the amino acid incorporation into proteins and failed to influence the uptake of amino acids. 3. It is assumed that the investigated membranous proteins are lymphokine-like materials produced continuously by lymphocytes in vivo and are incorporated into the membrane of the cells.