title: T cell growth-promoting activity of interferon-gamma. Mitogenic effect of the recombinant cytokine on cells from a human T-chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
abstract: Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) has previously been described as exerting a growth factor activity for murine and human stimulated normal T lymphocytes, in addition to its established role in regulating the cytotoxic activity of T and NK cells. We analyzed the effect of human recombinant IFN-gamma on the proliferation of leukemic lymphocytes isolated from the peripheral blood of a patient affected by a T-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (T-CLL). Incubation with IFN-gamma induced the proliferation of unstimulated leukemic cells. Cell proliferation was maximal after 6 days of culture with the cytokine; the half-maximal effect of IFN-gamma was observed at a concentration of approximately 800 U/ml. We also measured the production of IFN-gamma by leukemic cells. Cells incubated in control medium released small quantities of IFN-gamma activity, while the addition of low doses of the exogenous cytokine to the cell cultures induced high levels of IFN-gamma mRNA and protein production. Furthermore, anti-HLA class I monoclonal antibodies, that exert a mitogenic effect on these neoplastic lymphocytes, also induced the IFN-gamma gene expression in the same cells. These results indicate that IFN-gamma may stimulate the proliferation of human neoplastic T cells and suggest that this cytokine might have a role in the expansion of T-leukemic cell clones in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Divisione di Ematologia, II School of Medicine, University of Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Alfinito
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lamberti
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Capobianchi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nigro
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Rosa
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tassone
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Turco
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dianzani
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Venuta
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D015342:DNA Probes; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007378:Interleukins / Q000494:pharmacology; D015461:Leukemia, Prolymphocytic, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012016:Reference Values; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D016207:Cytokines; D015342:DNA Probes; D007376:Interleukin-2; D007378:Interleukins; D008934:Mitogens; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D007371:Interferon-gamma