Effect of the concentration of inducing agent on the output of lymphokines in the guinea pig.

The production of migration inhibition (MIF) and mitogenic (MF) factors by cultured guinea pig lymph node cells was examined as a function of the concentration of antigen or concanavalin A (ConA). Maximum output of MIF was achieved at comparatively low levels of antigen and was equal to the maximum output by ConA. In contrast, MF output increased up to the highest antigen concentrations tested. Kinetic and chromatographic analysis revealed no differences between the MF produced at high and low antigen concentration.