title: Immunomodulatory effects of IL-7 on dengue virus-specific cytotoxic CD4+ T cell clones.
abstract: Lymphokines play an important role in immune responses to viruses by modulating functions of T lymphocytes. We examined the effects of interleukin-7 (IL-7) on the growth and cytotoxic activity of dengue virus-specific, CD4+ human cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) clones. We then compared the effects of IL-7 with those of interleukin-2 (IL-2). The CD4+CTL clones were stimulated with dengue antigen or monoclonal antibody to CD3 in the presence of IL-7 or IL-2. IL-7 induced the growth of CD4+CTL clones and maintained the antigen-specific cytotoxic activity without inducing antigen-non-specific cytotoxic activity. The levels of the growth and cytotoxic activity induced by IL-7 were similar to those induced by IL-2. IL-7 and T-cell growth factor had an additive effect on the growth of CD4+CTL clones. These results suggest that IL-7 may play an important role in CD4+ T cell immune responses to viruses and that IL-7 is a lymphokine useful for maintaining the growth and antigenspecific cytotoxic activity of CD4+CTL clones in vitro, especially when used with T-cell growth factor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worchester 01655, USA.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Berrios
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kurane
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Ennis
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017252:CD3 Complex; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002999:Clone Cells; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D003716:Dengue Virus / Q000276:immunology*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D015851:Interleukin-7 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D017252:CD3 Complex; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015851:Interleukin-7