By using as an experimental system the induction of growth of a cloned, antigen:Ia-reactive helper T cell line by an antigen receptor-specific monoclonal antibody, we demonstrated that growth requires two essential co-factors, exogenously produced IL 1 and endogenously produced IL 2. The primary role of the IL 1 is in the expression of receptors on the T cell surface for IL 2, rather than for promoting the synthesis of IL 2. The use of a clone-specific activating monoclonal antibody at nanogram amounts to activate a cloned helper T cell should allow a detailed characterization of T cell activation via antigen receptor cross-linking.