title: In vitro enhancement of natural killer cell activity against herpesvirus-infected targets in patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia.
abstract: The present study was carried out to determine whether natural killer (NK) activity against virus-infected target cells could be enhanced in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) taken from patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia. Nonspecific cell-mediated killing of heterologous herpesvirus-infected B lymphoblastoid targets could be enhanced by pretreating PBL with interferons-alpha or -gamma, or with interleukin-2. NK activity was substantially enhanced over that of untreated cells, and virtually all cytolytic activity was attributable to CD16+ NK cells. Pretreatment of PBL with a combination of cytokines resulted in additive, but never synergistic enhancement of NK activity. The results suggest that cytokine therapy may provide a useful means for treating severe varicella zoster infections in immunocompromised children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Haematology/Oncology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: McKolanis
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Ragab
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Schmid
mesh_terms: D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007223:Infant; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000276:immunology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D007370:Interferon Type I; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D007371:Interferon-gamma