title: [The production of IL-2, IL-6 in relation to the functional development of NK cells in human fetal spleens].
abstract: The production of IL-2, IL-6 by fetal splenic mononuclear cells (FSMC) and relationship between them and the ontogenetic development of natural killer cell function were studied in human fetal spleens. As a results, before 20 weeks of gestation, both IL-2 and NK cell activities were not measured, but IL-6 was done. It was found that IL-2, IL-6 and NK cell activities were increased with the gestational age, and shown that there were linear positive correlation between the activities of three ones above (r > 0.86). Before the birth, the induced IL-2 activity was the same as adult levels (p > 0.05), although both IL-6 production and NK activity in fetal spleens were significantly lower than that in adults (p < 0.01). Lastly, the production of IL-2, IL-6 in relation to the functional development of NK cells during the embryonic development was discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan.
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Z Y
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Z G
authors.initials: ZG
authors.lastname: Tian
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005333:Fetus; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D015850:Interleukin-6