Staphylococcal enterotoxin B induced release of macrophage migration inhibition factor from normal lymphocytes

Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB), a potent lymphocyte mitogen, inhibits migration of peritoneal exudate cells from most guinea pigs but does not inhibit migration of purified macrophages. Experiments were designed to test the ability of highly purified SEB to induce normal lymphocytes to release migration inhibition factor (MIF). Supernatants of lymph node lymphocytes cultured with SEB inhibited the migration of purified macrophages, indicating the release of a migration inhibition factor. Mitomycin-C blocked the SEB-induced release of MIF. SEB-induced MIF localized in the albumin fraction on Sephadex G-200 chromatography. Antibody to SEB specifically blocked the inhibitory effect of SEB on migration of normal guinea pig peritoneal exudate cells.