Enhancement of maternal and neonatal natural killer cell activity with interleukin-2.
Natural killer cell activity, which is vital to the immune surveillance against viruses and tumor cells, is significantly lower in the newborn infant than in the mother. Incubation of maternal and cord blood lymphocytes with interleukin-2 significantly increases natural killer activity in both. The increase is substantially greater in the cord blood lymphocytes.
D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007112:Immunity, Maternally-Acquired; D007157:Immunologic Surveillance; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy
D007376:Interleukin-2