Stressor-induced changes in mitogenic activity are not associated with decreased interleukin 2 production or changes in lymphocyte subsets.
Splenic lymphocytes from Lewis rats that received presentations of physically aversive electric shock demonstrated a marked reduction in responsiveness to T-cell mitogens such as concanavalin A. This study examined cellular mechanisms which may be responsible for this functional alteration. There was no difference in distribution of T-cell subsets from shocked and nonshocked rats. There was no difference in the production of interleukin 2 (IL-2) nor was there a difference in the percentage of IL-2 receptor positive T cells or T-cell subsets after culture for 24 hr. However, there was a marked lack of mitogenic stimulation in splenocytes from shocked rats when stimulated with the calcium ionophore A23187. This indicates a defect in the biochemical pathways necessary to activate T-cell mitogenesis.
Cunnick
J E
JE
Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pennsylvania 15261.
Lysle
D T
DT
Armfield
A
A
Rabin
B S
BS
D000818:Animals; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008934:Mitogens / Q000276:immunology*; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000276:immunology*
D007376:Interleukin-2; D008934:Mitogens; D003208:Concanavalin A