title: Role of interleukin 1 in mycoplasma mitogen-induced proliferation of human T cells.
abstract: Recently, a mitogenic effect of the supernatant of cultured mycoplasma arthritidis (MAS) on human and murine lymphocytes has been described. Here, we studied the role of accessory cells (AC) in MAS-induced T cell proliferation in a system of human leukocytes. Nylon-wool purified T cells were non-responsive to MAS with regard to both proliferation and IFN-gamma production. The capacity of T lymphocytes to respond to MAS could be restored when viable AC were added. Treatment of AC with UV light resulted in a cell population which was incapable of reconstituting T cells. Addition of human recombinant interleukin 1 alpha (IL 1 alpha) or IL 1 beta again showed a reconstituting effect. However, only a partial reconstitution of the T cell response could be achieved by addition of recombinant IL 1 alpha or IL 1 beta. The optimal restoration was achieved by adding IL 1 at a concentration of 100 U/ml IL 1 alpha or 100 U/ml IL 1 beta. The results indicate that metabolically active AC were required for MAS-induced T cell proliferation to occur and that IL 1 was able to substitute for the role of AC. Since this restoration was only partial, it remains to be determined whether factors others than IL 1 are required to fully substitute the role of accessory cells.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Virus Research, German Cancer Research Center Heidelberg.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giese
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kirchner
mesh_terms: D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000528:radiation effects; D000941:Antigens; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology; D009174:Mycoplasma / Q000276:immunology; D011506:Proteins; D018089:Superantigens; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D007375:Interleukin-1; D008934:Mitogens; C052996:Mycoplasma arthritidis mitogen; D011506:Proteins; D018089:Superantigens; D007371:Interferon-gamma