The activity of natural cytotoxic cells is augmented by interleukin 2 and interleukin 3.
Murine natural killer (NK) and natural cytotoxic (NC) cells showed different patterns of augmentation of lytic activity after preincubation for 24 h with either poly-IC, interleukin 2 (IL-2), or interleukin 3 (IL-3): (a) Poly-IC augmented only NK cells, with no effect on NC activity, as we have previously observed (4); (b) IL-2 augmented both NK and NC activity; and (c) IL-3 augmented only NC lysis, without affecting NK activity. In addition, both precursor and the augmented effector cells showed differences in expression of the Qa-5 surface marker: NK precursors and effectors are Qa 5+, whereas NC precursors and effector cells are Qa-5-.
D000818:Animals; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D005354:Fibrosarcoma / Q000276:immunology; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000502:physiology*; D007377:Interleukin-3; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000502:physiology*; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011070:Poly I-C / Q000494:pharmacology; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology
D000954:Antigens, Surface; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D007376:Interleukin-2; D007377:Interleukin-3; D008222:Lymphokines; C032907:Q surface antigens; D011070:Poly I-C