title: Augmentation of antigen-specific lymphoproliferative responses in vitro by biological response modifiers.
abstract: The detection of antigen-specific T cell responsiveness, particularly of resting memory lymphocytes, in cultures of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) may be hampered by a less than optimal antigen presentation in vitro. Augmented sensitivity of the test system may be achieved by the addition of reagents with a beneficial effect on lymphocyte and antigen-presenting cell (APC) functions. In this study the effect of several biological response modifiers on antigen-specific T cell proliferation was determined, using nickel sulphate and tetanus toxoid as test antigens. IL-1 alpha (100 U/ml), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) (10 U/ml), and indomethacin (2 microM) were found to significantly enhance nickel-induced proliferation in PBMC cultures from nickel-hypersensitive donors (n = 6). Tetanus-induced proliferation (n = 5) was similarly enhanced, both by the above supplements and by the addition of polyethylene glycol (PEG) or a neuraminidase treatment of the PBMC before culture. The addition to PBMC cultures of a combination of IL-1 alpha (30 U/ml), IFN-gamma (10 U/ml), and indomethacin (2 microM) is recommended to specifically enhance antigen-induced lymphoproliferative signals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Free University Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: T D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: de Gruijl
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: de Vries
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: von Blomberg-van der Flier
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Fonk
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Scheper
mesh_terms: D017951:Antigen Presentation; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000494:pharmacology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D009532:Nickel / Q000276:immunology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D007375:Interleukin-1; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid; C029938:nickel sulfate; D009532:Nickel; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D007213:Indomethacin