Do OKT 3 monoclonal antibodies inhibit T-cell proliferation by blocking the receptor for TCGF?
OKT 3 monoclonal antibodies strongly inhibit the proliferation of T-cell growth factor (TCGF)-dependent continuously-growing T-lymphoblasts. The inhibition was shown to be dose-dependent reaching close to 70% in a concentration of 10 micrograms/ml. By using a purified radiolabelled TCGF preparation the inhibition was shown to take place at the level of growth factor binding. These results are consistent with OKT 3 monoclonal antibodies reacting with a membrane structure on or close to the TCGF receptor on activated human T-lymphocytes.