Effect of released lymphocyte proteins on human lymphocytes in vitro. II. Protein synthesis of nylon-wool separated cells in the presence of proteins derived from lymphocytes.

Protein synthesis of nylon-wool adherent (B) and non-adherent (T) human tonsillar lymphocytes was examined in the presence of three protein fractions precipitated with ammonium sulfate from the medium of the above lymphocytes incubated in vitro for 4 hours. One fraction precipitated with ammonium sulfate at 0--30% saturation was found to inhibit amino acid incorporation into proteins mainly in unseparated cells while the fraction precipitated at 30--70% saturation decreased the rate of protein synthesis in B cells. The fraction precipitated at 70--100% saturation inhibited protein synthesis slightly in T lymphocytes. Protein synthesis in B and T as well as in unseparated cells was also examined in the presence of proteins obtained from the medium of B and T lymphocytes. It is assumed that proteins released by lymphocytes without mitogenic activation in vitro are involved in the mediation of lymphocyte interactions and may be related to lymphokines synthesized and released by activated cells.