Up-regulation of natural killer cell cytotoxicity by interleukin-2: the effect of sex and parity.
OBJECTIVE
Peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) from some, but not all, female donors showed increased cytotoxicity in response to interleukin (IL)-2.


METHODS
The effect of IL-2 on natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity was compared in nulliparous females, parous females, and males. Peripheral blood lymphocytes were preincubated for 20 or 72 hr with 5 or 100 U/ml IL-2 and cytotoxicity against K562 targets was then examined.


RESULTS
In the parous females, only the 72-hr preincubation with 100 U/ml IL-2 significantly increased NK cell cytotoxicity, whereas nulliparous females also showed significantly increased cytotoxicity after a 20-hr preincubation with 100 U/ml IL-2. Neither female subject group had increased activity after preincubation for 20 or 72 hr with 5 U/ml IL-2. However, male peripheral blood lymphocytes also showed a significant increase in NK cell cytotoxicity when preincubated for 72 hr with 5 U/ml IL-2.


CONCLUSIONS
The effect of IL-2 on NK cell cytotoxic activity may be related to sex and the state of parity.
Brett
R
R
University Department of Pathology, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Royal Victoria Infirmary, UK.
Searle
R F
RF
Bulmer
J N
JN
D000328:Adult; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D010298:Parity; D012737:Sex Factors; D015854:Up-Regulation
D007376:Interleukin-2