Human interleukin-12 enhances interferon-gamma-producing influenza-specific memory CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes.
Interferon (IFN)-gamma synthesis of CD45RO+ (memory) and CD45RA+ (naive) CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and the role of interleukin (IL)-12 in the regulation of human CTL functions in virus-specific immunity were investigated. After culture with influenza virus, CD45RO+ CD8+ T cells from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells increased in frequency and exhibited significant major histocompatibility complex class I-mediated CTL activity, whereas CD45RA+ CD8+ T cells did not. Influenza virus-stimulated CD45RO+ CD8+ T cells contained significantly higher levels of IFN-gamma-producing cells and IFN-gamma-specific mRNA than did CD45RA+ CD8+ T cells. Recombinant human IL-12 further enhanced CTL activity and IFN-gamma production by CD45RO+ CD8+ T cells. These data clearly show that human virus-specific CTL activity and coproduction of IFN-gamma are associated with the CD45RO+ CD8+ T cells that are modulated by the cell-mediated, immunity-inducible cytokine IL-12 in humans.
Mbawuike
I N
IN
1Influenza Research Center, Department of Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.
Fujihashi
K
K
DiFabio
S
S
Kawabata
S
S
McGhee
J R
JR
Couch
R B
RB
Kiyono
H
H
D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000276:immunology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000276:immunology*; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018664:Interleukin-12; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens