The functional relationship of the interleukins.

The mechanism of the lymphoproliferative effect of the macrophage product lymphocyte-activating factor [LAF(IL1] appears to be mediated by the stimulation of the release of T cell growth factor [TCGF(IL2)] by T cells. The magnitude of the resultant T cell proliferative clonal expansion is thus dependent upon the quantity of both LAF(IL1) and TCGF(IL2) induced by antigen or lectin stimulation. These observations, coupled with the ability to measure the production and actions of these hormone-like lymphokines, should allow for increased insight into the mode of action of immunoenhancing and immunosuppressive agents, as well as for new therapeutic approaches to disease states involving T lymphocytes.