title: Cell activation and death (apoptosis) induced by IL-2: ultrastructural evidence.
abstract: Peripheral blood cells of cancer patients with advanced renal carcinoma and treated with interleukin-2 by intravenous application were studied by electron microscopy at different intervals from the beginning of rIL-2 administration. Morphofunctional modifications of lymphocytes, circulating hystiocytes containing phagocitated bodies and polimorphonucleated cells undergoing phagocytosis were observed with a time dependent increase of altered cells. The analysis of blood cells cultured in the presence of recombinant IL-2 confirmed the in vivo results. Our data suggest that IL-2 induces apoptotic phenomena in the peripheral blood cells of treated patients.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Genetica e Microbiologia, Università di Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Capelli
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barni
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vaccarone
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fortis
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nano
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012016:Reference Values; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins