title: Reduced interferon-gamma mRNA levels in human neonates. Evidence for an intrinsic T cell deficiency independent of other genes involved in T cell activation.
abstract: IFN-gamma mRNA levels in human neonatal blood mononuclear cells or highly purified T cells were markedly lower than those of adult cells after incubation with Con A and PMA. In contrast, IL-2, IL-2-R, and T3 delta chain mRNA levels were kinetically and quantitatively similar in neonatal and adult T cells. The peak amount of IFN-gamma and IL-2 mRNA correlated well with IFN-gamma and IL-2 detected in supernatants of both neonatal and adult T cells. These results suggest that reduced IFN-gamma mRNA levels in neonatal T cells is due to an intrinsic deficiency at the pretranslational level and indicate that the magnitude of IL-2 and IFN-gamma gene expression can be independently modulated pretranslationally.
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D005796:Genes; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000032:analysis*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D007371:Interferon-gamma