Effect of interleukins and anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody on the proliferation of thymocytes from irradiated mice.
The responsiveness of thymocytes on day 8 after irradiation to mitogens or anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody was evaluated in the presence of interleukin 2 (IL-2), interleukin 4 (IL-4), interleukin 6 (IL-6) or phorbol-myristate-acetate (PMA). After irradiation, the thymocytes were poorly responsive to T cell mitogens (Concanavalin A, phytohemagglutinin) and the defect could not be overcome by exogenous IL-2, IL-4, IL-6 or by PMA. In contrast, the combination of the calcium ionophore (A23187) and PMA stimulated thymocyte proliferation to a normal level. The anti-CD3 antibody associated with PMA activated thymocytes above the control values, but this was not observed when anti-CD3 was associated with either IL-2 or IL-4. These results suggest that in the thymic populations present early after irradiation 1) the weak proliferative response to mitogens could be related to a defect at a thymocyte level associated or not to an accessory cell deficiency, 2) the intracellular mechanisms involved in T cell proliferation were not altered, 3) the T cell antigen-receptor/CD3 complex was functional.
Daculsi
R
R
INSERM U.117, Bordeaux, France.
Legrand
E
E
Vaillier
D
D
Duplan
J F
JF
Guillemain
B
B
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D017252:CD3 Complex; D000001:Calcimycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D005260:Female; D007378:Interleukins / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000528:radiation effects; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D017252:CD3 Complex; D007378:Interleukins; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D000001:Calcimycin; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate