title: Interleukin-2 production by human fetal lymphocytes.
abstract: IL-2 production by PHA-stimulated human lymphocytes in umbilical blood was studied ontogenetically. Lymphocytes from the 16-week-old fetus produced appreciable amounts of interleukin-2 (IL-2). In 16- to 36-week-old fetuses the IL-2 production rate was found to be significantly higher than that in adults. When signal transduction, which is mediated by high affinity IL-2 receptors (IL-2R), was studied after adding exogenous IL-2 to PHA-blast lymphocytes, the response of the 24-week-old fetus was similar to that of adults. These results indicate that the attainment of IL-2 production and the function of IL-2 receptors are completed at a relatively early stage of fetal development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Moriyama
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ichijo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins