Human interleukin-7 induces proliferation of neoplastic cells from chronic lymphocytic leukemia and acute leukemias.
The biologic effects of interleukin-7 (IL-7) and the expression of specific IL-7 membrane receptors on isolated neoplastic cells from previously untreated patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia as well as acute leukemias were investigated in vitro. Leukemic cells were incubated for up to 6 days with various concentrations of IL-7 (0.01 to 2,000 U/mL). Neoplastic cells of the T- or B-phenotype from chronic as well as from acute leukemias proliferated in a dose-dependent manner. Cells from acute myeloid leukemias also proliferated in response to IL-7. An optimal proliferative effect was achieved between 96 and 120 hours with 200 U/mL IL-7. Combinations of IL-7 with IL-2 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha showed an additive effect on [3H]TdR incorporation. IL-7 binding assays gave a value of approximately 33 to 180 high-affinity (kd approximately 20 pmol/L) binding sites/cell and approximately 241 to 3,280 low-affinity (kd approximately 600 pmol/L) binding sites/cell. Receptor expression correlated with the proliferation in response to IL-7. These data indicate that IL-7 can induce proliferation of relatively mature tumor cells, and that this effect is not restricted to the lymphoid lineage.
Digel
W
W
Department of Internal Medicine III, University of Ulm, Germany.
Schmid
M
M
Heil
G
G
Conrad
P
P
Gillis
S
S
Porzsolt
F
F
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004261:DNA Replication / Q000187:drug effects*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D015851:Interleukin-7 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007700:Kinetics; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D008212:Lymphocyte Depletion; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / Q000032:analysis; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000502:physiology; D020395:Receptors, Interleukin-7
D015703:Antigens, CD; D015851:Interleukin-7; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D020395:Receptors, Interleukin-7