Activation of eosinophils in cancer patients treated with IL-2 and IL-2-generated lymphokine-activated killer cells.
Of 16 patients, a total of 13 who received IL-2 and autologous IL-2-generated lymphokine-activated killer LAK cells developed eosinophilia late during the course of treatment. To understand the direct or indirect effects of IL-2 on eosinophils, the physical and functional characteristics of the late-treatment eosinophils were compared to those of early-treatment and control eosinophils. Late-treatment eosinophils differed from early-treatment and control eosinophils in the following respects: they had somewhat reduced density, hypersegmented nuclei, eosinophil cationic protein converted from the storage form to the secretory form, and a greater than 200% increased ability to kill larvae of Schistosoma mansoni by an antibody-dependent mechanism (cytotoxic function). In vitro, IL-2 (1000 U/ml in medium as used to culture LAK cells) did not affect the cytotoxic function of eosinophils from cancer patients or from control subjects. However, LAK cell-conditioned medium enhanced the cytotoxic function of eosinophils from early-treatment cancer patients and from normal subjects by greater than 150%. Thus, eosinophils late in the course of IL-2/LAK cell treatment undergo physical changes and become functionally activated. The involvement of IL-2 in these changes is probably indirect, as an inducer of factors that enhance eosinophil function.
Silberstein
D S
DS
Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
Schoof
D D
DD
Rodrick
M L
ML
Tai
P C
PC
Spry
C J
CJ
David
J R
JR
Eberlein
T J
TJ
D000920:Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D002469:Cell Separation; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D047091:Eosinophil Granule Proteins; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000209:etiology; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology / Q000637:transplantation*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000032:analysis; D012260:Ribonucleases
D001798:Blood Proteins; D047091:Eosinophil Granule Proteins; D007376:Interleukin-2; D009498:Neurotoxins; D012260:Ribonucleases