title: Defects in interleukin-2 stimulation of neonatal natural killer cytotoxicity to herpes simplex virus-infected cells.
abstract: Natural killer cytotoxicity (NKC) is an important early defense mechanism in viral infections. We determined the ability of interleukin-2 (IL-2), an NKC stimulator, to enhance defective neonatal NKC to virus-infected cells. Human recombinant IL-2-stimulated adult and cord blood NKC to herpes simplex virus-infected cells in a time-dependent and dose-dependent fashion. The highest level of neonatal IL-2-stimulated cytotoxicity approached the level of unstimulated cytotoxicity when adult cells are used. Single-cell experiments suggested that the cord blood defect was due not to decreased adherence but to lysis or recycling defects. IL-2 stimulated adhesion in the presence of antibody but had no stimulatory effect on antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. The relative defects in IL-2 stimulation of neonatal NKC suggest that its lone use as a therapeutic or protective agent against herpes simplex virus infections is unlikely to be successful, and may require concomitant adult cells if NKC is a critical mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Program in Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, University of Texas Medical School Biometry Program, Houston.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kohl
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: West
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Loo
mesh_terms: D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000276:immunology*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2