IL-6/BSF-2 functions as a killer helper factor in the in vitro induction of cytotoxic T cells.
rIL-6/B cell stimulatory factor 2 was found to augment CTL generation from mature as well as immature human T cells stimulated with UV-treated allogeneic cells. rIL-6 also acted on peanut agglutinin-positive murine thymocytes and Lyt-2-positive splenic T cells to give rise to CTL. rIL-6 alone could not induce CTL generation, the presence of IL-2 during the early phase of culture period was found to be essential for the IL-6 activity in the induction of CTL. The effect of rIL-6 was not mediated by the induction of IL-2 inasmuch as rIL-6 did not augment IL-2 production in MLC and anti-IL-2 antibody could not neutralize IL-6 activity. rIL-6 augmented CTL generation even when added 72 h after the initiation of cultures. The enhancing activity of rIL-6 could be neutralized with anti-IL-6 antibodies even when added 72 h after the initiation of cultures. The present data indicate that IL-6 acts in the late phase of CTL generation.
Okada
M
M
Department of Medicine, Osaka University Hospital, Japan.
Kitahara
M
M
Kishimoto
S
S
Matsuda
T
T
Hirano
T
T
Kishimoto
T
T
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015850:Interleukin-6; D007378:Interleukins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D055646:Killer Factors, Yeast; D007700:Kinetics; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010641:Phenotype; D011506:Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000145:classification; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015850:Interleukin-6; D007378:Interleukins; D055646:Killer Factors, Yeast; D011506:Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins