Mouse granulated metrial gland cell cytotoxicity of Wehi 164 cells: is there a role for interleukin-3 and tumour necrosis factor-alpha?
OBJECTIVE
Mouse granulated metrial gland (GMG) cells are maternal, cytotoxic cells found in the uterine wall in pregnancy. In vivo, they are cytotoxic to layer 1 labyrinthine placental cells. In an in vitro system, granulated metrial gland cells are highly cytotoxic to Wehi 164 fibrosarcoma cells. In this study the role of interleukin (IL)-3 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha in granulated metrial gland cell cytotoxic activity was investigated.


METHODS
Chromium-release cytotoxicity assays using mouse metrial gland effector cells and Wehi 164 target cells with the addition of IL-3 or an antibody to TNF-alpha.


RESULTS
An antibody to TNF-alpha reduced the level of cytotoxic activity. IL-3 had no effect on the level of cytotoxicity.


CONCLUSIONS
Mouse granulated metrial gland cells kill using a TNF-alpha mediated mechanism which is independent of IL-3 stimulation.
Stewart
I J
IJ
University of Southampton, UK.
Peel
S
S
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000276:immunology; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D005354:Fibrosarcoma / Q000276:immunology*; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D007106:Immune Sera / Q000494:pharmacology; D007377:Interleukin-3 / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008791:Metrial Gland / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D011247:Pregnancy; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*
D007106:Immune Sera; D007377:Interleukin-3; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha