Mixed interleukins and thymosin fraction V synergistically induce T lymphocyte development in hydrocortisone-treated aged mice.
Analysis of the role of interleukins in T cell ontogeny in vitro indicates that the regulation of T cell development involves interleukins (ILs) as well as thymic hormones (THs). In order to assess their respective roles in T lymphocyte development in vivo, chemically thymectomized mice were treated with ILs and THs. After 2 days of hydrocortisone treatment, aged mice showed acute thymic involution (weight was less than 30% of control) and reduced spleen size (less than 80% of control) with progressive recovery to 8 days. After 2 days of hydrocortisone treatment, adult mice were injected for 5 days with mixed buffy coat interleukins (BC-IL; 50 units IL2 equivalence), purified IL2 (50 units), rIL1 beta (4 ng), and thymosin fraction V (TF5; 100 micrograms). The animals were sacrificed and spleens and thymuses were analyzed for weight, cellularity, T cell number, subsets, and function as determined by proliferative responses to concanavalin A and ILs. BC-IL treatment increased the recovery of spleen and thymus weights and cellularity with corresponding augmentation of number and function of T lymphocytes; neither IL1 or IL2 or their combination had this effect. TF5 had no effect alone but strongly potentiated the effect of BC-IL on T lymphocyte function. These data indicate that BC-IL in combination with thymic peptides potently promotes T lymphocyte development. The combination may be therapeutically relevant for immunorestoration.
Hadden
E M
EM
Department of Internal Medicine, University of South Florida Medical College, Tampa 33612.
Malec
P
P
Sosa
M
M
Hadden
J W
JW
D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005260:Female; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000494:pharmacology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000494:pharmacology; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D007378:Interleukins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008938:Mitosis / Q000187:drug effects; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D013934:Thymectomy; D013947:Thymosin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology
D007375:Interleukin-1; D007376:Interleukin-2; D007378:Interleukins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C033782:thymosin fraction 5; D013947:Thymosin; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D006854:Hydrocortisone