title: Interleukin-2-dependent long-term cultures of low-density lymphocytes allow the proliferation of lymphokine-activated killer cells with natural killer, Ti gamma/delta or TNK phenotype.
abstract: We have developed a culture system for "long-term" growth of human lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells exhibiting an elevated, wide-spectrum antitumor cytotoxicity. The system allows the exponential growth of monocyte-depleted low-density lymphocytes in the presence of human serum and recombinant human interleukin-2 (10(3) U/ml), alone or in combination with interleukin-1 alpha or beta (both at 10 U/ml). Eighteen cultures were established from 18 normal adult donors. The membrane phenotypes of the final LAK cell population, assessed by a panel of monoclonal antibodies (mAb), consist of three main types: (a) NKH-1+, Ti alpha/beta-, Ti gamma/delta-, and CD3- lymphocytes; (b) NKH-1+, Ti alpha/beta-, Ti gamma/delta+, and CD3+ lymphocytes and (c) NKH-1+, Ti alpha/beta+, Ti gamma/delta- and CD3+ lymphocytes. Northern blot analysis showed that all these cell populations express relatively high levels of perforin RNA, particularly cells exhibiting the first phenotype. This culture system may provide a tool for cellular and molecular studies on the mechanisms of antitumor cytotoxicity, as well as the basis for new adoptive immunotherapy protocols in advanced center.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology-Oncology, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Testa
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Care
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Montesoro
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fossati
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giannella
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Masciulli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fagioli
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bulgarini
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Habetswallner
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Isacchi
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002469:Cell Separation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000494:pharmacology; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D015979:Killer Cells, Lymphokine-Activated / Q000502:physiology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000502:physiology; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology; D054353:Perforin; D052899:Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D007375:Interleukin-1; D007376:Interleukin-2; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D052899:Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D054353:Perforin