title: The effect of metals on IL-2-related lymphocyte proliferation.
abstract: The heavy metals Pb, Ni and Zn have previously been demonstrated to stimulate the proliferation of an Lyt1+2-, L3T4+T-cell. This proliferation required the presence of Ia+ cells and was blocked by monoclonal antibodies directed against self I-A, self I-E and L3T4a. The work reported here examined the role of T-cell factors (IL-2 and gamma-IFN) and their receptors in the metal-induced lymphoproliferation. The metals Pb, Ni and Zn, at concentrations (100 microM) which stimulate T-cell proliferation, had little effect on the ability of the IL-2-dependent cell line HT-2 to respond to exogenous IL-2. This suggests that Pb, Ni and Zn do not modulate the ability of IL-2 to interact with the IL-2 receptor. Ni and Zn significantly enhanced the synthesis/secretion of IL-2 by cultured splenocytes and the expression of the receptor for IL-2; however, Pb produced only slight enhancement. Likewise, anti-IL-2 receptor (7D4) antibodies were able to inhibit a significant portion of the Ni- and Zn-, but not Pb-, induced lymphoproliferation. The residual 3H-thymidine incorporation observed in the presence of anti-IL-2 and anti-IL-2R may represent cycling B-cells induced to proliferate by activated, but non-cyclin, T-cells. Monoclonal anti-gamma-IFN (R4/6A2) equally inhibited all metal-induced lymphoproliferation, suggesting that metal-induced lymphoproliferation is dependent on the induction of gamma-IFN as well as IL-2 synthesis. The Pb-induced response being the least dependent on IL-2 lends support to the hypothesis that Pb, Ni and Zn may activate T-cells and/or B-cells by different mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albany Medical College of Union University, New York 12208.
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Warner
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Lawrence
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D007854:Lead / Q000633:toxicity; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008670:Metals / Q000633:toxicity*; D051379:Mice; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D009532:Nickel / Q000633:toxicity; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015032:Zinc / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D008670:Metals; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D003208:Concanavalin A; D007854:Lead; D009532:Nickel; D015032:Zinc