title: Role of interferons in natural killer cell generation from primitive bone marrow precursors.
abstract: We studied the possible role of interferons (IFNs) on the interleukin-2 (IL-2)-dependent development of mouse natural killer (NK) cells from undifferentiated bone marrow (BM) precursors. Results indicate that alpha-IFN is able to synergize with IL-2 in the induction of lytic effectors. The stimulating effect of alpha-IFN is dose-dependent and is also obtained when BM cells are pretreated shortly before culturing. The precursor cells are resistant to treatment with 5-fluorouracil (FU, 150 mg/kg i.v.). Treatments which have been shown to eliminate more differentiated cells but spare less differentiated BM precursors, are asialoGM1-, Thy1+, Lyt1- and Lyt2-. Effector cells generated by culturing with IL-2 and alpha-IFN are typical NK cells in that they lyse only NK-susceptible targets. These are Thy1+, asialoGM1+, Lyt5+, Lyt1- and Lyt2-. These data suggest that alpha-IFN may represent a maturational signal for the generation of NK cells from undifferentiated BM precursors.
authors: Institute of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Perugia, Italy.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Migliorati
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Cannarile
authors: R B
authors: RB
authors: Herberman
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Riccardi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000494:pharmacology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology; D007372:Interferons / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D007370:Interferon Type I; D007376:Interleukin-2; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D007372:Interferons