title: Influence of interleukin-2 on the differentiation of macrophages.
abstract: Macrophage precursor cells, enriched in the light fraction of murine bone marrow, were cultured in vitro under the influence of CSF-1 or IL-2 or both cytokines. In the presence of CSF-1 or CSF-1 and IL-2 strong proliferation occurred, whereas in the presence of only IL-2 or medium, cells did not proliferate. Thus all proliferating cells had CSF-1 receptors and thus belonged to the macrophage lineage. IL-2 induced in these cells the formation of cytoplasmic granules and concomitantly NK-like lytic activity. Under high dosage IL-2 cells further differentiated into cells containing abundant amounts of cytoplasmic granules and exerted LAK type cytotoxicity. When IL-2 was withdrawn from the culture medium, cells could be redirected to develop the properties of typical macrophages when CSF-1 was present. Thus the composition of the cytokines surrounding macrophage precursors decides on their differentiation pathway.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung Immunbiologie, Fraunhofer Institut, Hannover, BRD.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Lohmann-Matthes
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Emmendoerffer
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015979:Killer Cells, Lymphokine-Activated / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL
chemical_list: D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D007376:Interleukin-2; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; D007371:Interferon-gamma