Interferon-beta 2/interleukin 6 is a co-stimulant for human T lymphocytes.
IFN-beta 2/IL-6 promotes the proliferation of human peripheral blood T cells in the presence of either PHA or Con A. This effect is observed with highly purified T cells and is masked by the addition of as few as 2% monocytes, suggesting that accessory cells are not required and that IFN-beta 2/IL-6 acts directly on the T cells. Both T4-positive and T8-positive cells respond to IFN-beta 2/IL-6 plus PHA. Studies of the time requirements of IFN-beta 2/IL-6 and of PHA in the response of T cells show that optimal co-stimulation occurs when both IFN-beta 2/IL-6 and PHA are added together at the outset of culture, suggesting that IFN-beta 2/IL-6 acts predominantly on resting T cells. Unlike T cell proliferation induced by IL-2, T cell proliferation induced by IFN-beta 2/IL-6 is not blocked by antibodies to the IL-2 R, suggesting that IFN-beta 2/IL-6 does not act by stimulating IL-2 production. Thus, in addition to its previously reported properties, IFN-beta 2/IL-6 stimulates T cells in the presence of mitogen, and may prove to be of considerable importance in the physiologic activation of T cells.
Tosato
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Division of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Food and Drug Administration, Bethesda, MD 20892.
Pike
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D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000276:immunology; D002469:Cell Separation; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000502:physiology; D015850:Interleukin-6; D007378:Interleukins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007700:Kinetics; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018127:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D007370:Interferon Type I; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015850:Interleukin-6; D007378:Interleukins; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D018127:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7