IL-2 and IL-12 act in synergy to overcome antigen-specific T cell unresponsiveness in mycobacterial disease.
IL-12 secretion by APC is critical for the development of protective Th1-type responses in mycobacterial (Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium tuberculosis) infections in mice. We have studied the role of IL-12 and IL-2 in the generation of Mycobacterium leprae-specific T cell responses in humans. Leprosy patients were defined as low/nonresponders or high responders based on the level of T cell proliferation in M. leprae-stimulated PBMC. In high responders, M. leprae-induced proliferation was markedly suppressed by neutralizing anti-IL-12 mAb (inhibition 55 +/- 6%). Neutralization of IL-2 activity resulted in an inhibition of 77 +/- 4%. Given the importance of endogenous IL-2 and IL-12 in M. leprae-induced responses, we investigated the ability of rIL-2 and rIL-12 to reverse T cell unresponsiveness in low/nonresponder patients. Interestingly, rIL-12 and rIL-2 strongly synergized in restoring both M. leprae-specific T cell proliferation and IFN-gamma secretion almost completely to the level of responder patients. A similar synergy between rIL-2 and rIL-12 was also observed in high responders when suboptimal M. leprae concentrations were used for T cell stimulation. Our data demonstrate a crucial role for endogenous IL-12 and IL-2 in M. leprae-induced T cell activation. Most importantly, we show that rIL-2 and rIL-12 act in synergy to overcome Ag-specific Th1 cell unresponsiveness. These findings may be applicable to the design of antimicrobial and antitumor vaccines.
de Jong
R
R
Department of Immunohematology & Bloodbank, University Hospital Leiden, The Netherlands.
Janson
A A
AA
Faber
W R
WR
Naafs
B
B
Ottenhoff
T H
TH
D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004357:Drug Synergism; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007918:Leprosy / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D009166:Mycobacterium leprae; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D007376:Interleukin-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D018664:Interleukin-12