title: Impaired production of interleukins in patients with cell-mediated immunodeficiencies.
abstract: The poor mitogen response to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) of lymphocytes from three patients with cell-mediated immunodeficiencies was restored to normal when supernatants containing interleukin 2 (IL-2) were added. One of three children with severe combined immunodeficiency also showed a partial response. There was no improvement in the normal mitogenic response of the lymphocytes from patients with either the X linked or common variable forms of hypogammaglobulinaemia. All three patients with cell-mediated immunodeficiencies showed gross imbalance in the ratio of helper/inducer (OKT4+) to suppressor/cytotoxic (OKT8+) T cells. The PHA stimulated culture supernatant from one of these patients failed to induce proliferation of a cytolytic continuous T cell line. Our data suggests that the underlying defect in these patients may be a failure in production of interleukins but not in the acquisition of IL-2 receptors.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007153:Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins