title: Hexadecylphosphocholine induces interferon-gamma secretion and expression of GM-CSF mRNA in human mononuclear cells.
abstract: The effects of hexadecylphosphocholine (HePC) on secretion of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and steady-state levels of IFN-gamma and GM-CSF mRNA were studied in human mononuclear cells. Cells from healthy donors were stimulated with either interleukin 2 (IL-2) alone, IL-2 plus phytohemagglutinin (PHA), or IL-2 plus HePC. In IL-2-treated cultures, the concentration of IFN-gamma was low. IFN-gamma and GM-CSF transcripts were not detectable by Northern blot analysis. In contrast, IL-2 plus HePC strongly increased the expression of the IFN-gamma and the GM-CSF genes and the secretion of IFN-gamma in most analyzed cultures. A similar effect could be detected with IL-2 plus PHA. The HePC-mediated enhancement of cytokine expression appeared later than the PHA-induced stimulation. These data indicate that HePC is able to enhance the immune response of IL-2-stimulated mononuclear cells resulting in GM-CSF and IFN-gamma gene expression and IFN-gamma secretion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Hochhuth
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vehmeyer
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Eibl
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Unger
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003115:Colony-Stimulating Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D010767:Phosphorylcholine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D003115:Colony-Stimulating Factors; D007376:Interleukin-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D010767:Phosphorylcholine; C039128:miltefosine; D007371:Interferon-gamma