Tumor necrosis factor secreted by transformed human B lymphocytes: Lack of an autocrine growth effect

Abstract

There is evidence that tumor necrosis factor (TNF) may be a proliferation and differentiation factor for B lymphocytes. We found that three of four lymphoblastoid cell lines (ADD, IM-9, W1) secreted TNF-β and expressed TNF receptors, whereas one pre-B cell leukemia and six Burkitt's lymphoma cell lines had no detectable TNF secretion and, except for one Burkitt's cell line (LOU), very low expression of TNF receptors. When IM-9, W1 or LOU cells were cultured over seven days in the presence of either TNF-α or antiserum to TNF-β there was no difference between their growth rate, endogenous TNF-β secretion or immunoglobulin secretion compared to untreated cells. These findings indicate that TNF ..