Interleukin-2 augments natural killer cell activity

CS Henney, K Kuribayashi, DE Kern, S Gillis - Nature, 1981 - nature.com
CS Henney, K Kuribayashi, DE Kern, S Gillis
Nature, 1981nature.com
Abstract The lymphokine interleukin-2 (IL-2; also termed T-cell growth factor) causes the
proliferation of activated T-cell clones1, 2. Effector T-cell lines exhibiting suppressor, helper
and cytotoxic activities have been established by growth of appropriately stimulated cells in
IL-2-containing medium3, 4. In addition, IL-2 has been shown to provide requisite T-cell
'help'in a number of in vitro immune response assays, including the generation of cytotoxic T
cells from thymocyte (and nude spleen cell) cultures5 and the induction of erythrocyte …
Abstract
The lymphokine interleukin-2 (IL-2; also termed T-cell growth factor) causes the proliferation of activated T-cell clones1,2. Effector T-cell lines exhibiting suppressor, helper and cytotoxic activities have been established by growth of appropriately stimulated cells in IL-2-containing medium3,4. In addition, IL-2 has been shown to provide requisite T-cell ‘help’ in a number of in vitro immune response assays, including the generation of cytotoxic T cells from thymocyte (and nude spleen cell) cultures5 and the induction of erythrocyte-specific antibody in T cell-deficient populations6. We report here a further activity of IL-2, one previously attributed solely to interferon—the ability to augment the cytotoxic activity of natural killer (NK) cells. This conclusion was reached from the observation that preparations of IL-2, which lacked interferon, caused a rapid increase in NK cell activity. This ability to augment cytotoxity was removed from IL-2 preparations, not only by absorption with IL-2 receptor bearing cells, but also by precipitation with a monoclonal antibody directed against IL-2.
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