title: Interleukin-2 production and response by helper T-cell subsets in man.
abstract: This study investigated the production of, and response to, the lymphokine interleukin-2 (IL-2) by functional subsets of human CD4+ T lymphocytes. Fresh peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were sorted into CD4+2H4+/4B4- suppressor-inducer cells, and CD4+2H4-/4B4+ helper cells. The suppressor-inducer subset proliferated well in response to the T-cell mitogens concanavalin A (Con) A and phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), and produced IL-2. The helper cells produced no detectable IL-2 and proliferated poorly. However, the latter population were induced to express functional IL-2 receptors by Con A or purified protein derivative (PPD), and proliferated well if supplied with exogenous rIL-2. These findings suggest that the two functional CD4 subsets are not independent, or counteracting, but rather that the generation of T-cell help is likely to involve cooperative interactions between the two subsets.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, University of Birmingham, U.K.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salmon
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Kitas
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Gaston
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Bacon
mesh_terms: D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis; D002455:Cell Division; D002469:Cell Separation; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2