title: Interleukin-1 and interferon-alpha augment interleukin-2 (IL-2) production by distinct mechanisms at the IL-2 mRNA level.
abstract: The production of interleukin-2 (IL-2) by phytohemaglutinin (PHA)-stimulated cells of human leukemia T cell line MOLT-16 can be significantly increased by interleukin-1 (IL-1) or interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha). The enhancing effect of IL-1 and IFN-alpha on IL-2 production was studied at the IL-2 mRNA level. We show that IL-1 enhances considerably and transiently, with the maximum level between 1 and 2 hr after stimulation, the expression of IL-2 mRNA in the PHA-stimulated cells. The level of IL-2 mRNA declined rapidly within 4 to 6 hr after stimulation in both PHA- and PHA plus IL-1-stimulated cell cultures. On the contrary, IFN-alpha does not elevate the level of IL-2 mRNA above the level in PHA-stimulated cultures, but maintains an enhanced level of IL-2 mRNA in the activated cells for more than 6 hr after stimulation. These observations correlate well with the kinetics of IL-2 protein production into the culture media. The results thus suggest that IL-1 and IFN-alpha may exert an enhancing effect on IL-2 production by distinct mechanisms. In addition, none of the five other lymphokines tested (i.e., IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-6) had any significant effect on IL-2 mRNA expression in the activated MOLT-16 cells.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Holán
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dao
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kosarová
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lipoldová
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Minowada
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007377:Interleukin-3 / Q000494:pharmacology; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000494:pharmacology; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000494:pharmacology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000494:pharmacology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha; D007375:Interleukin-1; D007376:Interleukin-2; D007377:Interleukin-3; D015848:Interleukin-5; D015850:Interleukin-6; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015847:Interleukin-4