title: Enhancement of natural killer cell activity and interferon production by manganese in young mice.
abstract: The effect that MnCl2 has on murine splenic natural killer (NK) cell activity was investigated in infant (10 days old), pre-weanling (18 days old) and weanling (24 days old) C57BL/6J mice. A single intraperitoneal injection of 10, 20 or 40 micrograms MnCl2/g body weight caused a significant enhancement in NK activity, as determined by the in vitro 51Cr release assay. Comparable enhancement of NK activity was observed for age-matched mice injected intraperitoneally with polyinosinic polycytidylic acid (Poly I:C). Both MnCl2 and Poly I:C caused elevations in serum interferon levels. Time-course studies revealed that interferon levels returned to normal within 48 hours following injection with either MnCl2 or Poly I:C; however enhanced NK activity persisted for up to 48 hours in Poly I:C-injected mice and 72 hours in MnCl2-injected mice. The administration of rabbit anti-asialo GMl to MnCl2-injected mice completely abrogated the enhanced NK activity. In addition, the injection of rabbit anti-mouse interferon alpha, beta but not gamma completely abrogated the enhanced NK activity. In addition, the injection of rabbit anti-mouse interferon alpha, beta but not gamma completely abrogated the enhancement of NK activity by MnCl2 and to a lesser extent the enhancement of NK activity by Poly I:C. These results indicate that despite low levels of NK activity in pre-weanling mice, MnCl2 is capable of enhancing this activity by 8-9 fold. Furthermore, Mn-enhanced NK activity in these young mice appears to be mediated by the production of interferon alpha, beta.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002712:Chlorides; D005260:Female; D005677:G(M1) Ganglioside; D006028:Glycosphingolipids / Q000276:immunology; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D007372:Interferons / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008345:Manganese / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017895:Manganese Compounds; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D011070:Poly I-C / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D002712:Chlorides; D006028:Glycosphingolipids; D017895:Manganese Compounds; D005677:G(M1) Ganglioside; D008345:Manganese; C018835:asialo GM1 ganglioside; D007372:Interferons; D011070:Poly I-C; C025340:manganese chloride