title: Enhancement of human natural killer cell function by the combined effects of tumor necrosis factor alpha or interleukin-1 and interferon-alpha or interleukin-2.
abstract: The current studies examined the potential for additive or synergistic augmentation of human natural killer (NK) function by combined stimulation with tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) or interleukin-1 (IL-1) and interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) or IL-2. The modest augmentative effect of preincubation with either IL-1 or TNF-alpha alone was most consistently shown when killing of an NK-resistant target was examined. Preincubation with the combination of IL-1 and TNF-alpha caused no additive effect on NK function. Following preincubation with IL-1 and IL-2 or TNF-alpha and IL-2, marked enhancement of NK activity was noted, particularly when lysis of the NK-resistant target Cur was assessed. Killing of K562 targets was more markedly augmented by costimulation with TNF-alpha and IL-2 than with IL-2 alone or the combination of IL-1 and IL-2. Finally, IFN-alpha in combination with either TNF-alpha or IL-1 markedly enhanced Cur lysis, whereas interferon-gamma failed to augment IL-1- or TNF-alpha-enhanced tumor lysis. These findings demonstrate the separate and cooperative effects on human NK function of TNF-alpha or IL-1 in combination with IL-2 or IFN-alpha and suggest that the appropriate combinations of such agents may serve as the basis for in vivo multiagent immunotherapeutic regimens.
authors.affiliation: Harold C. Simmons Arthritis Research Center, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75235-8887.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Ostensen
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Thiele
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Lipsky
mesh_terms: D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D004357:Drug Synergism; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D007370:Interferon Type I; D007375:Interleukin-1; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma