title: IL-2 responsiveness of lectin-induced lymphoblasts: soluble IL-2 receptor release and differential in vitro effects of immunosuppressants.
abstract: We examined the mode of action of different immunosuppressants on the responsiveness of phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-induced lymphoblasts further stimulated by recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2). The stimulation of PHA blasts with rIL-2 resulted in an enhancement of tritiated thymidine ([3H]TdR) incorporation and of soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) release. Cyclosporin A (CsA) and prednisolone inhibited in different ways the responsiveness of PHA pre-stimulated blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) to rIL-2, as measured by [3H]TdR incorporation. The addition of CsA resulted in considerable enhancement of the release of sIL-2R, whereas the addition of prednisolone was associated with a similar enhancement only when the higher concentrations of rIL-2 were employed. EGTA, a calcium (Ca2+) chelator, and verapamil, a Ca2+ channel blocker, inhibited [3H]TdR incorporation in a concentration-dependent manner. EGTA inhibited sIL-2R release in the same manner when used alone, and reversed the CsA- and prednisolone-induced enhancement of sIL-2R release by rIL-2 induced lymphoblasts, when used in combination with CsA or prednisolone. Verapamil had a similar but less striking effect. The effects of CsA and prednisolone were also studied in PHA-induced blasts originating from purified CD4+ or CD8+ lymphocytes. Stimulation of these blasts with rIL-2 resulted in higher [3H]TdR incorporation by CD8+ blasts than by CD4+ blasts: however, no sIL-2R release was detected in supernatants of either CD4+ or of CD8+ blasts. Both CsA and prednisolone inhibited the rIL-2-induced enhancement of [3H]TdR incorporation by both T-cell subsets.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway 08854.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hornung
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Raskova
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Raska
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Degiannis
mesh_terms: D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004533:Egtazic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000494:pharmacology; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D014700:Verapamil / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004533:Egtazic Acid; D016572:Cyclosporine; D011239:Prednisolone; D014700:Verapamil