Natural human interferon-alpha augments interleukin-2 production by a direct action on the activated IL-2-producing T cells.
The production of interleukin-2 (IL-2) by Concanavalin A (ConA)-stimulated peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) from normal human donors was enhanced by natural human interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha). The mechanism of the action of IFN-alpha on IL-2 production was studied further using cloned human leukemic T-cell lines, which produce IL-2 spontaneously and/or after mitogen stimulation. It was found that IFN-alpha alone did not stimulate IL-2 production, but increased it in the activated cells. The ability of IFN-alpha to increase IL-2 production was abrogated by the treatment of IFN-alpha preparations with specific anti-IFN-alpha antibody, and the induced IL-2 activity was completely inhibited by monoclonal antibody against human IL-2. We suggest that the augmentation by IFN-alpha of IL-2 production in the activated T cells may be one of the mechanisms attributable to the immunotherapeutic action of IFN-alpha.
Holán
V
V
Fujisaki Cell Center, Hayashibara Biochemical Laboratories, Inc., Okayama, Japan.
Kohno
K
K
Minowada
J
J
D002999:Clone Cells; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000187:drug effects; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D016898:Interferon-alpha; D007376:Interleukin-2