Modulation of human natural killer cell activity by recombinant human interleukin 2.
Recombinant human IL-2, secreted by yeast harboring a plasmid containing a synthetic IL-2 gene, is biologically active in augmenting human natural killer (NK) cell activity. A dose-dependent linear stimulation of NK activity was obtained against the chronic myelogenous leukemia cell line K562 over the range of 3 to 300 units/ml of IL-2. Enhancement of NK activity was similarly demonstrable against the less NK-sensitive carcinoma cell lines LoVo and SKOSC. IL-2 could also be demonstrated to augment antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) against SKOSC targets. IL-2 responsiveness segregated with a non-E-rosetting fraction comprising 11% of postfractionation lymphocytes, and containing 94% of the recoverable NK activity, suggesting that IL-2 might operate directly upon the NK cell rather than through an accessory cell. This is believed to be the first demonstration of NK stimulatory activity by the product of a totally synthetic human IL-2 gene. The availability, purity, and NK-enhancing properties of the recombinant IL-2 make it a potentially important agent for clinical trial.
D000920:Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000187:drug effects; D005813:Genes, Synthetic; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000494:pharmacology; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D007951:Leukemia, Myeloid; D012516:Osteosarcoma; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics
D007370:Interferon Type I; D007376:Interleukin-2