title: Effects of interferon-gamma on the activation of human T lymphocytes.
abstract: The role of interferon (IFN)-gamma in the activation of human T cells was investigated. Addition of IFN-gamma to mixed-lymphocyte cultures (MLC) augmented both the proliferation and the development of T-cell-mediated cytotoxicity. IFN-gamma also augmented the early expression on CD8+ but not CD4+ lymphocytes of IL-2 receptor alpha chain (Tac antigen) and Class II major histocompatibility antigen (HLA-DR). This effect synergized with that caused by interleukin 2 and was not observed with IFN-alpha. The addition of neutralizing antibody against IFN-gamma to MLC suppressed the development of cytotoxicity and proliferation and the expression of activation antigens on CD8+ cells. In experiments in which highly purified CD8+ T cells were activated with cell-free stimuli, IFN-gamma slightly but significantly augmented proliferation, antibody to IFN-gamma suppressed proliferation, and excess IFN-gamma reversed this suppression. It is concluded that (i) IFN-gamma augmented activation of T cells in human MLC, (ii) IFN-gamma exerted effects directly on T cells, and (iii) IFN-gamma preferentially augmented CD8+ cell activation.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunology, Division of Virology, Food and Drug Administration, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Siegel
mesh_terms: D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000187:drug effects; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000494:pharmacology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000032:analysis; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D018127:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7
chemical_list: D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D007370:Interferon Type I; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D018127:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7; D007371:Interferon-gamma