Functional effects of thymopoietin32-36 (TP5) on cytotoxic lymphocyte precursor units (CLP-U). I. Enhancement of splenic CLP-U in vitro and in vivo after suboptimal antigenic stimulation.

Cytotoxic lymphocyte precursor units (CLP-U) were enumerated in the spleens of C57BL/6 mice 3 days after i.p. injections of synthetic thymopoietin32-36 (TP5). One hundred to 1000 ng TP5/mouse potentiated splenic CLP-U, this effect being detectable only after suboptimal allogeneic sensitization (with 1.2 x 10(5) mitomycin-C treated DBA cells). This elevation of CLP-U persisted in the injected mice for at least 14 days. Control peptide did not affect CLP-U. In vitro incubation of 0.01 to 0.1 ng/ml of TP5 with normal C57BL/6 spleen cells also enhanced CLP-U after suboptimal allogeneic stimulation; high concentrations of TP5 caused suppression of CLP-U and this was detectable with optimal sensitization conditions. Thus TP5, in vitro and in vivo, appears to regulate immune responsiveness and this regulation varies with TP5 dosage and with the immune stimulus.