Frontiers in Immunology (Dec 2014)
Revisiting the identification and cDNA cloning of T cell-replacing factor/interleukin-5
Abstract
This is a perspective based on the paper Cloning of complementary DNA encoding T cell replacing factor and identity with B cell growth factor II, by Kinashi T, Harada N, Severinson E, Tanabe T, Sideras P, Konishi M, Azuma C, Tominaga A, Bergstedt-Lindqvist S, Takahashi M, Matsuda F, Yaoita Y, Takatsu K, and Honjo, T. Nature (1986) 32(6092): 70-3. We have been interested in understanding the molecular basis of T-B cell cooperation for antibody formation. Although many investigators had described a number of different soluble factors that appeared to have biological relevance to T-B cell interactions, molecular basis of such active substances remained unknown for a long period of time. In this perspective, I will briefly summarize the history of the initial discovery of T cell-replacing factor/B cell growth factor II that appeared to be involved in B-cell growth and differentiation, and outline the discovery and characterization of interleukin-5. Studies of interleukin-5 have provided strong evidence that a single cytokine exerts a variety of activities on diverse target cells.
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