HLA-B8,DR3 T cell impairment is completely restored by in vitro treatment with interleukin-2

Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol. 1991;13(4):551-61. doi: 10.3109/08923979109019722.

Abstract

The activity of recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) on the in vitro lymphocyte proliferative response to phytohemagglutinin mitogen was investigated in healthy HLA-B8,DR3 positive and negative subjects. The response to mitogen, significantly decreased in HLA-B8,DR3 positive subjects, was completely restored by adding rIL-2. Moreover, in HLA-B8,DR3 positive subjects the in vitro treatment with rIL-2 significantly increased the reduced frequency of mitogen responsive T lymphocyte precursors, as assessed by limiting dilution analysis. These data suggest that a decrease in the size of the pool of T cell precursors able to produce IL-2 is responsible for the impairment of T cell function observed in HLA-B8,DR3 positive subjects. Since in autoimmune diseases it is possible to show the same impairment(s) of T cell functions which can be observed in HLA-B8,DR3 positive subjects, these results could be of practical value for the understanding of pathogenetic mechanism(s) of autoimmune diseases and, in case, for therapeutical purposes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Autoimmune Diseases / etiology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • HLA-B8 Antigen / analysis*
  • HLA-DR3 Antigen / analysis*
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-2 / pharmacology*
  • Lymphocyte Activation / drug effects
  • Middle Aged
  • Recombinant Proteins / pharmacology
  • T-Lymphocytes / drug effects*
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology

Substances

  • HLA-B8 Antigen
  • HLA-DR3 Antigen
  • Interleukin-2
  • Recombinant Proteins