title: Effect of human alpha-fetoprotein on native and in vitro-stimulated NK activity.
abstract: We have examined the effect of human alpha-fetoprotein (h-alpha FP), at concentrations ranging from the physiological to pathological circulating levels, on the native and alpha IFN- and IL2-boosted NK activity of normal peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL). The cytotoxic function of unstimulated PBL was unchanged after a 16 hr incubation with 200 to 8000 ng/ml h-alpha FP. By contrast, this treatment significantly reduced the responsiveness of PBL to the NK-enhancer factors IFN and Interleukin 2. Optimal inhibition was observed when cells were pre-incubated with h-alpha FP before being stimulated with IFN. The sensitivity of PBL to the h-alpha FP mediated inhibition was restricted to the very early times (30 min) of incubation with the stimulating agents.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigaciones Medicas-Session Endocrinologia, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cardoso
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Valdez
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Comini
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Matera
mesh_terms: D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D007700:Kinetics; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha; D007376:Interleukin-2; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins