title: The effect of experimental iron-overload on splenic T cell function: analysis using cloning techniques.
abstract: The effect of iron-overload on cell-mediated immunity was examined in C57 mice. Two methods of iron-loading were used: (i) dietary carbonyl iron which produced iron-loading primarily of parenchymal cells or (ii) intraperitoneal administration of iron-dextran which produced iron-loading predominantly of Kupffer cells. Both methods of iron-loading resulted in a diminished capacity of spleen cells to generate an allo-specific cytotoxic response in the absence of exogenous interleukin 2 (IL-2). Exogenous IL-2, however, restored the ability of spleen cells from iron-loaded mice to generate allo-specific cytotoxicity in bulk culture. Clonal assays for the precursor cells of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL-P), performed in the presence of added IL-2, demonstrated that iron-loaded mice contained normal numbers of CTL-P. However, cultures of spleen cells from carbonyl iron-loaded mice generated less IL-2 following Concanavalin A stimulation, apparently as a result of a reduction in the number of IL-2-secreting cells amongst the spleen cell population. This work presents further evidence that iron-overload is associated with defective immunoregulatory control.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002999:Clone Cells / Q000276:immunology; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000187:drug effects; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007501:Iron / Q000494:pharmacology*; D054354:Iron Carbonyl Compounds; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000187:drug effects; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D054354:Iron Carbonyl Compounds; D007501:Iron