Nickel antigen induces IL-2 secretion and IL-2 receptor expression mainly on CD4+ T cells, but no measurable gamma interferon secretion in peripheral blood mononuclear cell cultures in delayed type hypersensitivity to nickel.
Nickel sulphate antigen-induced peripheral blood lymphocyte activation in vitro was characterized by lymphokine measurement (IL-2, IFN-gamma) and phenotyping of the IL-2 responsive cells. Mononuclear cells from nickel-sensitive patients synthesized more DNA, produced more IL-2 and had more IL-2 receptor positive cells in response to nickel than did those of the control subjects. On the other hand no IFN-gamma was detectable in the nickel supernatants, while PPD, used as the control antigen, induced pronounced quantities of IFN-gamma with an equal amount of DNA synthesis. The increase in IL-2 receptor positive cells was due to activation of CD4+ (helper/inducer) T cells. T cells with HLA-DR antigen surface markers were more numerous on each day of culture than cells with IL-2 receptors. These two activation markers were co-expressed on the same cells only to a certain extent, thus perhaps reflecting different types or phases of activation. In conclusion, nickel-induced peripheral blood mononuclear cell activation in vitro differs from microbial antigen-induced activation with respect to its modest or non-existent IFN-gamma response.
Karttunen
R
R
Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Oulu, Finland.
Silvennoinen-Kassinen
S
S
Juutinen
K
K
Andersson
G
G
Ekre
H P
HP
Karvonen
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000276:immunology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008875:Middle Aged; D009532:Nickel / Q000276:immunology*; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*; D014373:Tuberculin / Q000494:pharmacology
D000954:Antigens, Surface; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D014373:Tuberculin; D009532:Nickel; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D004247:DNA