Interleukin-6 does not support interleukin-2 induced generation of human lymphokine-activated killer cells.
The activity of lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells is supported by various cytokines. The objective of this study was to see if recombinant interleukin-6 (IL-6) either alone or in combination with interleukin-2 (IL-2) has any effect on the generation of LAK cells. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells of healthy donors were cultured for 4 or 6 days with both cytokines either alone or in combination. LAK activity against K562 and natural killer-resistant Daudi cells was assessed by a 4-h and an 18-h 51Cr-release assay at various effector to target ratios. IL-6 alone in increasing concentrations did not induce LAK cell activity. Neither additive nor synergistic effects of IL-6 with IL-2 were observed. Immunofluorescence analysis with phycoerythrin-conjugated anti-CD56 antibody demonstrated that IL-6 could not maintain or increase the number of CD56-positive cells over a 6-day culture period. These results suggest that IL-6 does not support LAK cell generation by itself or increase LAK cell activity in combination with IL-2.
Klingemann
H G
HG
Terry Fox Laboratory, Division of Hematology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
Wong
E
E
D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis; D019002:CD56 Antigen; D002455:Cell Division; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015979:Killer Cells, Lymphokine-Activated / Q000187:drug effects*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D015703:Antigens, CD; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D019002:CD56 Antigen; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015850:Interleukin-6