Interleukin-2 induces an early step in the activation of interferon-gamma gene expression.
Establishment of protective immunity depends critically on IFN-gamma. We show that in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, low doses of IL-2 greatly potentiate the response of the IFN-gamma gene to mitogen, by over 100-fold. By itself, IL-2 is unable to induce IFN-gamma mRNA to a significant extent. Yet, exposure to IL-2 leads to cellular commitment within a few hours, expressed by greatly enhanced accumulation of IFN-gamma mRNA upon subsequent exposure to phytohemagglutinin. Changes induced by IL-2 do not relieve the requirement for de novo protein synthesis during the early phases of induction of IFN-gamma gene expression. IL-2 may induce a component essential for induction of IFN-gamma mRNA that is utilized during subsequent exposure to a mitogenic signal. Our results demonstrate synergy between IL-2 and mitogen in IFN-gamma gene induction.
Arad
G
G
Department of Molecular Virology, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel.
Nussinovich
R
R
Kaempfer
R
R
D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003513:Cycloheximide / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D015533:Transcriptional Activation
D007376:Interleukin-2; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D003513:Cycloheximide