Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2026
Manipulating the Murine Lacrimal Gland
Published on: November 18, 2014
Lacrimal gland-derived lymphocyte proliferation potentiating factor
S H Liu1, D H Zhou, R M Franklin
1Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute, Johns Hopkins, University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
Insights
Researchers identified a lacrimal gland factor that enhances T lymphocyte proliferation. This discovery suggests lacrimal gland cells play a role in modulating local immune responses through secreted factors.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Ophthalmology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Lacrimal gland acinar cells are crucial for ocular surface health.
- The role of lacrimal gland cells in modulating local immune responses is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the involvement of lacrimal gland acinar cells in immune response modulation.
- To isolate and characterize a novel factor from the lacrimal gland with biological activity on T lymphocytes.
Main Methods:
- Purification of a protein factor from lacrimal gland extracts using ion exchange and gel-filtration chromatography.
- Characterization of the factor's molecular weight (approx. 65,000 daltons) via gel-filtration and SDS-PAGE.
- Assessing the factor's effect on T lymphocyte proliferation stimulated by mitogens (Con A) and antigens (OA).
Main Results:
- The purified factor, termed lacrimal gland-derived lymphocyte proliferation potentiating factor (LG-F), enhances T lymphocyte proliferation.
- LG-F's potentiating effect on proliferation appears mediated by Interleukin-2 (IL-2) production.
- LG-F demonstrates antigen-dependent enhancement of T cell proliferation, augmenting responses when co-applied with specific antigens.
Conclusions:
- Lacrimal gland cells may modulate local immunity by secreting factors that influence lymphocyte proliferation.
- The identified LG-F is a key player in augmenting lymphokine production and local immune responses within the lacrimal gland.
- This factor's presence is significant for understanding the generation and regulation of ocular immune responses.
Purpose:
To determine whether lacrimal gland acinar cells are involved in modulating local immune response; to isolate and characterize a lacrimal gland factor that exerts biological activities on T lymphocytes.
Methods:
A protein factor has been purified from lacrimal gland extracts by a combination of ion exchange and gel-filtration chromatography. This factor has the capacity to enhance proliferation of T lymphocytes upon stimulation with a mitogen or an antigen. We have, therefore, called this substance lacrimal gland-derived lymphocyte proliferation potentiating factor (LG-F).
Results:
Lacrimal gland-derived lymphocyte proliferation potentiating factor has a molecular weight of approximately 65,000 daltons as determined by gel-filtration and by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate. T cells demonstrate greater proliferation when cultured with high concentrations of concanavalin A (Con A) in the presence of LG-F, as compared with culture without addition of LG-F. This enhancing effect of LG-F may be mediated by IL-2, because the final cell count correlates with the levels of IL-2 secreted by LG-F-activated cells. Lacrimal gland-derived lymphocyte proliferation potentiating factor is nonmitogenic for T cells, but its potentiating effect is antigen-dependent. Dual stimulation of OA-primed T cells with both OA and LG-F results in greater proliferative activity, in contrast to culture with OA alone.
Conclusions:
The results suggest that lacrimal gland cells may interact with the immune system by elaborating nonspecific factors that modulate lymphocyte proliferation and augment lymphokine production. The presence of such a factor in the lacrimal gland may prove to be of importance in the generation of local immune responses.
Related Concept Videos
01:18Lymphoid Cells and Tissues
Lymphoid cells consist of various types of immune system cells. These include B and T lymphocytes, which are responsible for producing antibodies and killing infected cells, respectively. Dendritic cells act as messengers between the innate and adaptive...
01:23Cells of the Adaptive Immune Response
01:24B Cell Activation and Differentiation
When naive B cells encounter a specific antigen that can bind to the B cell receptor (BCR) on their surface, they undergo sensitization to respond to the antigen's presence. Sensitization begins with...