title: Capacity of human large granular lymphocytes (LGL) to produce multiple lymphokines: interleukin 2, interferon, and colony stimulating factor.
abstract: Human large granular lymphocytes (LGL), which are known to be responsible for natural killer (NK) cell activity, also produced a variety of lymphokines including interleukin 2 (IL 2), colony stimulating factor (CSF), and interferon (IFN) in response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) or concanavalin A (Con A). Human peripheral blood LGL, which were purified by removal of monocytes adhering to plastic flasks and nylon columns, followed by separation on a discontinuous Percoll gradient, and additional treatment with anti-OKT3 and Leu-M1 plus complement, were more potent producers of these lymphokines than unseparated mononuclear cells (MNC), nylon column-eluted cells, or purified T lymphocytes. Moreover, IL 2 production by LGL could be further distinguished in that it was not enhanced by the addition of macrophages or macrophage-derived factor, i.e., IL 1, whereas addition of macrophages did potentiate IL 2 production by T lymphocytes. Further analysis of cells in the LGL population using various monoclonal antibodies revealed that removal of cells with OKT11 or AF-10, a monoclonal antibody against human HLA-DR antigen, decreased IL 2 production, whereas removal of OKT8+, OKM1+, Leu-M1+, or Leu-7+ cells led to enhanced IL 2 production. The LGL population is therefore heterogeneous and includes at least three functionally and phenotypically distinct subsets. An atypical T cell subset (OKT3-, Leu-1-, OKT11+) rather than the myeloid subset of LGL (Leu-M1+ or OKMI+) was the source of LGL-derived IL 2, whereas the latter subset and/or another subset of OKT8+ cells appear to regulate this IL 2 production. In addition to performing NK activity, LGL on a per cell basis seem to be more effective than T lymphocytes in producing lymphokines, namely, IL2, CSF, and IFN.
mesh_terms: D002469:Cell Separation; D003115:Colony-Stimulating Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000502:physiology; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology; D010641:Phenotype; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D003115:Colony-Stimulating Factors; D007375:Interleukin-1; D007376:Interleukin-2; D008222:Lymphokines; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D003208:Concanavalin A; D007372:Interferons