The generation and regulation of human T lymphocytes by Imuthiol. Evidence from an in vitro differentiation induction system.

In vitro long term induction of human peripheral blood lymphocytes by sodium diethyldithiocarbamate, DTC (Imuthiol) enhanced the expression of OKT and HLA-DR phenotypic determinants. A population of T-B-DR+ cells was recruited from the null cell population. The increase in OKT+ cells, but not the enhanced HLA-DR expression appeared to be macrophage dependent. The surface markers of NK cells, monocytes or the pokeweed mitogen-induced IgM production were not modified. Collectively, the findings indicate that Imuthiol is not a B cell inducer, but is specifically active on the T-cell population in the way it induces the maturation of null cells into OKT+ DR+ lymphocytes.