Prolongation of cardiac allograft survival in rats by treatment with anti-interleukin 2 antiserum.
Interleukin-2 (IL2) is the obligatory signal for both T cell mitogenesis and in vitro generation of alloreactive cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). An investigation was made to determine whether an antibody directed against IL2 would suppress the rejection reaction of rat cardiac allografts. Rabbit anti-interleukin 2 (anti-IL2) antiserum was obtained by immunizing at 2 week intervals over a period of 8 weeks with 10(6) U of recombinant human IL2 along with complete Freund's adjuvant. The bioassay for inhibition of IL2 activity by anti-IL2 antiserum was carried out in conjunction with the IL2-dependent cytotoxic T cell (CTLL cell) assay. Cardiac allografts of F344 rats were heterotopically transplanted into ACI rats. Seven daily doses of 1 ml of anti-IL2 antiserum were administered intravenously following transplantation. IL2-driven [3H]thymidine incorporation in CTLL cells was significantly inhibited by rabbit anti-IL2 antiserum. Graft survival in the anti-IL2 serum-treated group was significantly prolonged in a dose-dependent fashion compared to control groups. In conclusion, these results indicate that rabbit anti-IL2 antiserum may prove to be of significant value as an immunosuppressive agent in clinical organ transplantation.
Osaki
T
T
First Department of Surgery, Okayama University Medical School, Japan.
Sakagami
K
K
Orita
K
K
D000818:Animals; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011912:Rats, Inbred ACI; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000276:immunology
D007376:Interleukin-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins