title: Comparison of the effect of IL-2 and IL-6 on the lytic activity of purified human peripheral blood large granular lymphocytes.
abstract: The effects of IL-6 and IL-2 on highly purified, human peripheral blood large granular lymphocytes (LGL) were investigated and compared. IL-6 enhanced LGL NK activity in a dose-dependent manner against K562, however IL-2 was a more potent stimulus of LGL NK function. Neither IL-2 nor IL-6 increased LGL cytotoxic potential in a parallel estimation of heteroconjugated antibody (anti-CD16 x anti-nitrophenyl mAb)-dependent cytotoxicity against nitrophenyl-modified YAC. Unlike IL-2, IL-6 did not significantly induce LGL lymphokine-activated killer activity, LGL proliferation, or LGL lymphokine production. In particular, IL-6 did not stimulate detectable LGL IL-2 production or IL-2R modulation, and mAb to the p75 IL-2R had no effect on IL-6 induction of LGL NK activity. Therefore, in the absence of T cells, IL-6 provided an IL-2-independent signal to LGL that resulted in augmentation of their NK activity without stimulating their proliferation or other LGL functions.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Immunology, National Cancer Institute-Frederick Cancer Research and Development Center, MD 21702-1201.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Smyth
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Ortaldo
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000502:physiology*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000502:physiology*; D015979:Killer Cells, Lymphokine-Activated / Q000276:immunology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015850:Interleukin-6; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D004247:DNA