title: Mycoplasma-induced in vitro production of interleukin-2 and colony-stimulating activity.
abstract: Mitogenic doses of membranes purified from Mycoplasma pneumoniae as well as concanavalin A (ConA) were tested for their ability to induce production of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating activity (GM-CSA) by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Unlike ConA, M. pneumoniae exhibited a significantly lower mitogenic effect and lacked the ability to induce production of IL-2. On the other hand, peak levels of GM-CSA produced in the presence of M. pneumoniae and detected in colony assays of human target marrow cells were approximately 80% of those produced in the presence of ConA. Whereas ConA induced a similar time-related effect upon [3H]thymidine uptake and GM-CSA production, maximal GM-CSA production preceded the peak proliferative response to M. pneumoniae, thereby indicating that M. pneumoniae-induced production of GM-CSA is not quantitatively correlated with DNA synthesis. These findings may contribute to the understanding of the inflammatory manifestations induced by this organism.
mesh_terms: D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003115:Colony-Stimulating Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D003470:Culture Media / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D009177:Mycoplasma pneumoniae / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D003115:Colony-Stimulating Factors; D003470:Culture Media; D007376:Interleukin-2; D003208:Concanavalin A