title: Direct killing of interleukin-2-transfected tumor cells by human neutrophils.
abstract: We have previously established that human polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) express IL-2R beta- and gamma-chains and that addition of IL-2 maintains the viability of PMN by preventing these cells from undergoing programmed cell death. The purpose of this study was to examine whether IL-2-releasing tumor cells are capable of stimulating PMN tumoricidal activity. We therefore investigated the ability of PMN to kill IL-2-transfected tumor cells using normal human PMN directed against the murine mammary adenocarcinoma TS/A engineered to release high amounts of murine IL-2 (3,600 U, B6) compared with TS/A parental cells and TS/A tumor cells transfected with the neomycin-resistance (NEO) gene only. The potency of PMN as IL-2-induced killer cells was indicated by the low number of cells required for killing (effector cell:target cell ratio 10:1) and the degree of tumor cell lysis (68+/-10%). Evidence for the role of IL-2 as a mediator of tumor cytotoxicity by PMN was substantiated by inhibition of tumor killing with anti-IL-2 and anti-IL-2R beta monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). Furthermore, in vivo depletion of mature granulocytes using MAb RB6-8C5 resulted in B6 adenocarcinoma growth, thereby confirming a direct role for IL-2-activated PMN in tumor cytolysis. Lastly, we suggest that one possible mechanism involved in IL-2-induced PMN cytotoxicity against the B6 clone occurs via the nitric oxide pathway, which could be inhibited upon addition of the arginine analog, N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine.
authors.affiliation: Experimental Immunology Branch, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pericle
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Kirken
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Epling-Burnette
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Blanchard
authors.forename: J Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Djeu
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology; D002455:Cell Division; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000502:physiology*; D019868:Kanamycin Kinase; D008325:Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental; D051379:Mice; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000502:physiology*; D010587:Phagocytosis; D017853:Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor) / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000494:pharmacology; D014162:Transfection; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D017853:Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor); D019868:Kanamycin Kinase