title: Reconstitution of in vivo cell-mediated lympholysis responses in aged mice with interleukin 2.
abstract: Advancing age is accompanied by declining immune potential. Both humoral and cellular immune responses are diminished in aged humans and experimental animals. A major lesion preventing effective T cell-mediated responses is the lack of interleukin 2 (IL 2) synthesis in aged mice. Addition of IL 2 can effectively reconstitute in vitro T cell-dependent humoral and cell-mediated immunity. These results have been extended, demonstrating that IL 2-containing lymphokine preparations when administered with antigen can restore the ability of aged mice to generate cytotoxic T lymphocytes in vivo. Furthermore, IL 2 has been identified as the active component of these lymphokine preparations through the use of purified human IL 2 prepared by recombinant DNA and gene cloning technology. The cloned IL 2 is highly effective in enhancing the immune responses of aged animals both in vitro and in vivo.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Thoman
authors.forename: W O
authors.initials: WO
authors.lastname: Weigle
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D006462:Hemolytic Plaque Technique; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000502:physiology; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine