Cytokine production profile of early thymocytes and the characterization of a new class of chemokine.

By using a variety of molecular techniques, we have characterized the cytokine profile of pro-T cells. During this characterization we cloned a novel cytokine that has chemotactic activities. We have designated this cytokine lymphotactin. The structural analysis, chromosomal location, and biological properties of lymphotactin provide strong evidence that this cytokine represents a new class of chemokine.