Role of Epidermal Cell Thymocyte-Activating Factor in the Proliferation and Differentiation of Murine B Cells

The role of antigen nonspecific cytokines in T- and B-lymphocyte responses is now well established. Interleukin-1 (IL-1) has been shown to augment B-cell maturation and proliferation. While the major source of IL-1 is from monocytes or macrophages, other cell types have been shown to produce IL-1-like cytokines. Epidermal cells produce a cytokine termed "epidermal cell-derived thymocyte-activating factor" (ETAF) which is similar if not …