Cytotoxic activity of T lymphocytes is induced upon stimulation with IL-3 plus GM-CSF in animal leukemia model.
Chemotherapy for leukemia has severe toxicity and bone marrow transplantation is both financially and logistically demanding. Therefore, immunotherapy is a feasible and promising approach to treat leukemia. For immunotherapy, cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) against leukemic cells were induced. In BALB/c mice, leukemia was induced by N-ethyl-N'-nitrosourea (ENU). The mice were treated with recombinant IL-3 and GM-CSF - both 5μg/kg/day for four days to induce functional CTL. The IL-3+GM-CSF treatment increased total leukocyte counts, accompanied by significant increase in CTL activity, in the leukemic mice. The IL-3+GM-CSF treatment also enhanced the expression of both p40 and p35 isoforms of IL-12. Perforin and granzyme B expressions were increased in the treated group supporting the T lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxic killing of the target cells. The protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) activity was increased in leukemia but decreased after the treatment with IL-3 and GM-CSF. Interferon gamma (IFN-γ) production was decreased in leukemic condition but increased after the treatment with these colony stimulating factors. These data indicate the anti-leukemic potential of the IL-3 and GM-CSF combination therapy.
Immunology microbiology Lab, Department of Human Physiology, Tripura University, Suryamaninagar, Tripura 799022, India.
Ashish Kumar
AK
Singha
Immunology microbiology Lab, Department of Human Physiology, Tripura University, Suryamaninagar, Tripura 799022, India.
Bhaskar
B
Bhattacharjee
Immunology microbiology Lab, Department of Human Physiology, Tripura University, Suryamaninagar, Tripura 799022, India. Electronic address: debasish.maiti@tripurauniv.in.
Debasish
D
Maiti
Cytotoxicity; GM-CSF; Granzyme; IL-3; Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ); Leukemia; Perforin; Protein tyrosine kinase (PTK); T lymphocytes