title: Interleukin-2 inhibits sodium currents in human muscle cells.
abstract: The effect of the T cell growth factor interleukin-2 (IL-2) on muscular Na+ channels was studied in myoballs produced from primary human muscle cultures. The transient Na+ inward currents of the myoballs, elicited by repetitive stimulation at 1 Hz and recorded in the whole-cell mode, were inhibited by IL-2 applied to the external solution, the half maximum effect occurring at 300 U/ml. The effect was complete within 5 s and was totally reversible, the on and off effects having identical time courses. The h infinity curve was shifted in negative direction indicating that the mechanism of IL-2 action is a conversion of the Na+ channels into a state of inactivation. The reaction of the IL-2 solution with an anti IL-2 antibody neutralized the inhibitory effect on the Na+ currents, indicating a specific effect of the peptide growth factor interleukin-2 on muscular Na+ channels. The connection of IL-2 and Na+ channels may be important in inflammatory processes of muscle and nerve.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Allgemeine Physiologie, Universität Ulm, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Brinkmeier
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kaspar
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wiethölter
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rüdel
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000503:physiopathology; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009132:Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D015222:Sodium Channels