Dissociated production of interleukin-2 and immune (gamma) interferon by phytohaemagglutinin stimulated lymphocytes in healthy infants.
Cord blood lymphocytes were stimulated with phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) to produce interleukin-2 (IL-2) and immune interferon (IFN-gamma). On PHA stimulation, cord blood lymphocytes produced efficiently IL-2 as much as adult ones. Antiviral activity generated on PHA stimulation was shown to consist mainly of IFN-gamma as assessed by the sensitivity to pH 2.0 treatment and neutralization with anti-human IFN-gamma antibody. In contrast to IL-2 production, cord blood lymphocytes released extremely low levels of IFN-gamma following PHA stimulation. The producing ability of IFN-gamma by lymphocytes on PHA stimulation gradually increased with child growth, but was significantly low at 1-2 years of age as compared with adult controls. Around 3 years of age or later, the producing ability of IFN-gamma by lymphocytes on PHA stimulation attained levels comparable to those of adult cells. These results suggested that IL-2 producing ability of lymphocytes appeared to be at a mature stage at birth, whereas lymphocytes in the early human life might be relatively deficient in their ability to produce IFN-gamma.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007700:Kinetics; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology
D007376:Interleukin-2; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D007371:Interferon-gamma