Identification of multiple cytolytic components associated with the beta-LT class of lymphotoxins released by mitogen-activity human lymphocytes in vitro.

Cytotoxic activity (lymphotoxin (LT) associated with the 50,000 dalton beta-LT class of human lymphotoxins has been resolved into multiple components by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose or electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gels. The two components, termed beta-LT, and beta-LT2, are separable from the 90,000 m.w. alpha-LT, since neither component is neutralized by incubation with heterologous rabbit anti-alpha-LT antisera. However, the two components differ in their overall charge and relative heat stability with the betaLT1 component being more positively charged than the beat-LT2 molecule and extremely heat labile.