title: Production of human and murine interleukin-2 by toxic shock syndrome toxin-1.
abstract: Toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1), isolated from Staphylococcus aureus strains associated with toxic shock syndrome (TSS), is known as a potent mitogen and interleukin-1 inducer. The potential of TSST-1 as an interleukin-2 (IL-2) inducer was tested on human peripheral blood lymphocytes (HPBL) and murine spleen lymphocytes (MSL). These cells were incubated with TSST-1 and the supernatants analysed for IL-2 production. Preincubation of IL-2-dependent indicator cells (IC) with a monoclonal antibody specific for murine IL-2 receptors inhibited their proliferation by supernatants of TSST-1-treated MSL, thus strongly suggesting that they contain IL-2. The concentrations of TSST-1 required for HPBL or MSL to produce IL-2 ranged between 10(-1) and 10(-4) micrograms/ml. The amount of IL-2 units/ml varied little from one experiment to another. In contrast, IL-2 production by PHA-stimulated HPBL or Con A-stimulated MSL showed great variability and dependence on mitogen concentration. T-cell depleted MSL exposed to TSST-1 produced less IL-2. Experiments with germ-free mice and TSST-1-primed mice demonstrated that IL-2 production is not related to TSST-1 antigenicity.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003208:Concanavalin A; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008938:Mitosis / Q000187:drug effects; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000276:immunology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus; D018089:Superantigens; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D004768:Enterotoxins; D007376:Interleukin-2; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D018089:Superantigens; C030107:enterotoxin F, Staphylococcal; D003208:Concanavalin A