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The lymphocyte chemoattractant factor

D M Center1, J S Berman, H Kornfeld

  • 1Pulmonary Center, Boston University School of Medicine, MA 02118-2394.

The Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine
|February 1, 1995
PubMed

Insights

The unique interleukin, LCF, attracts and promotes the growth of CD4+ T cells by interacting with CD4. This discovery reveals new functions for CD4 and suggests LCF

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • The unique interleukin, LCF (leukocyte chemoattractant factor), lacks significant homology to other known interleukins or chemokines.
  • CD4 is a critical molecule primarily known for its role on T cells, but its broader functions are less understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the function of LCF and its interaction with CD4.
  • To elucidate the chemoattractant and growth factor properties of LCF on CD4+ cells.
  • To explore the implications of LCF's activity in immune cell function and human diseases.

Main Methods:

  • Characterization of LCF as a unique interleukin.
  • Assessing LCF's chemoattractant activity on CD4+ cells, potentially using CD4 as a receptor.
  • Evaluating LCF's role as a growth factor for CD4+ T cells, monitoring cell cycle progression markers (MHC II, IL-2R).

Main Results:

  • LCF acts as a chemoattractant for all CD4+ cells, utilizing CD4 or a CD4-dependent complex as its receptor.
  • LCF functions as a growth factor for CD4+ T cells, inducing entry into the G1 phase and subsequent proliferation.
  • LCF's activity extends the known functions of CD4 to include roles on eosinophils and monocytes.

Conclusions:

  • LCF is a novel cytokine with dual chemoattractant and growth factor activities for CD4+ cells.
  • The findings highlight a significant role for CD4 beyond T cells, impacting eosinophil and monocyte function.
  • LCF's involvement in CD4+ cell activation suggests potential relevance in inflammatory diseases like sarcoidosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and asthma.

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