title: The mechanisms involved in the activation of human natural killer cells by staphylococcal enterotoxin B.
abstract: The induction of enhanced natural cytotoxicity from human peripheral mononuclear cells by staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) was examined. The activated killer cytotoxicity (AKC) was maximum at 16 hr with 1 mg/ml SEB. The precursor and effector cells of AKC were determined to be primarily CD5 negative, CD8 negative, CD16 positive cells. Monocytes and interleukin-1 played no role in the generation of AKC. However, a major role for interleukin-2 (IL-2) in AKC was shown by the inhibition of AKC when anti-IL-2 antibody or cyclosporin was added to the induction cultures. SEB rapidly induced the production of IL-2 from glass nonadherent cells by 6 hr and reached peak levels by 24 hr (162 U/ml). IL-2 induced by SEB in these induction cultures was preferentially produced by CD16 positive cells. Even though interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production was induced in these cultures, no role for IFN could be shown in SEB-induced AKC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of New Mexico, School of Medicine, Albuquerque 87131.
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Bankhurst
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Imir
mesh_terms: D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000032:analysis; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000502:physiology; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000502:physiology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D010641:Phenotype; D011961:Receptors, Fc / Q000032:analysis; D017452:Receptors, IgG
chemical_list: D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D004768:Enterotoxins; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011961:Receptors, Fc; D017452:Receptors, IgG; C031818:enterotoxin B, staphylococcal; D007371:Interferon-gamma