The activity of natural cytotoxic cells is augmented by interleukin 2 and interleukin 3.

Abstract

Murine natural killer (NK) and natural cytotoxic (NC) cells showed different patterns of augmentation of lytic activity after preincubation for 24 h with either poly-IC, interleukin 2 (IL-2), or interleukin 3 (IL-3): (a) Poly-IC augmented only NK cells, with no effect on NC activity, as we have previously observed (4); (b) IL-2 augmented both NK and NC activity; and (c) IL-3 augmented only NC lysis, without affecting NK activity. In addition, both precursor and the augmented effector cells showed differences in expression of the Qa-5 surface marker: NK precursors and effectors are Qa 5+, whereas NC precursors and effector cells are Qa-5-.

In vivo anti‐tumor activity of combinations of interferon alpha and interleukin‐2 in a murine model. Correlation of efficacy with the induction of cytotoxic cells resembling natural killer cells

“…Since these cytokines have been shown to influence a number of cytotoxic effector cells including NK cells (Djeu et al, 1979;Henney et al, 1981;Brunda and Rosenbaum, 1984;Talmadge et al, 1985;, natural cytotoxic (NC) cells (Lattime et al, 1983), macrophages (Herberman et al, 1982), cytotoxic T cells (Baker et al, 1978) and rIL-2 AK cells (Grimm et al, 1982;, we attempted to determine which cytotoxic effector cell is augmented in mice treatment with rIL-2 and rHuIFN-aA/D. In initial exper-iments, mice were treated in vivo with anti-asialo GMI, which has been reported to inhibit NK but not other cytotoxic cells (Habu et al, 1981;Lattime et al, 1981;Keller et al, 1983).…”

Immunomodulation of early engrafted natural killer cells with interleukin-2 and interferon-α in autologous stem cell transplantation

“…[16][17][18][19][20] Preclinical studies have shown that NK cells eradicate and control tumor cell growth of leukemias and lymphoma. [21][22][23] Because NK cells recover early during the period when most tumor relapses occur post ASCT, our interest focused on regulation of NK cells as a method of immunotherapy to improve remission and cure rates by eradicating minimal residual disease by means of stimulated NK cells.IL-2 is a 15-kDa glycoprotein that promotes proliferation and differentiation of helper T cells, cytotoxic T cells, and B cells and is necessary for acute and anamnestic adaptive immune responses.24 IL-2 is an excellent candidate to be an immunomodulator for post-ASCT up-regulation of NK cells, because NK cells are unique in that they constitutively express IL-2 receptors; thus, they always react to IL-2.25 NK cells have also interferon receptors in their cell membrane, and interferons have been shown to be effective up-regulators of NK-cell activity. [26][27][28][29] Results of previous studies have demonstrated that IL-2 and IFN-␣ augment NK cell cytotoxicity.…”

“…[16][17][18][19][20] Preclinical studies have shown that NK cells eradicate and control tumor cell growth of leukemias and lymphoma. [21][22][23] Because NK cells recover early during the period when most tumor relapses occur post ASCT, our interest focused on regulation of NK cells as a method of immunotherapy to improve remission and cure rates by eradicating minimal residual disease by means of stimulated NK cells.…”

Membrane markers, target cell specificity, and sensitivity to biological response modifiers distinguish human natural cytotoxic from human natural killer cells.

“…6) (14) which defines a subset of human natural cytotoxic lymphocytes that preferentially kill anchorage-dependent target cells rather than the K562 cell line. These findings suggested that HNC-I A3' cells may represent the human equivalent of murine NC cells (13), which are distinguishable from mouse NK cells in terms of cell surface markers, strain distribution, target cell specificity, and sensitivity to IFN or interleukins.…”

“…solid tumor cells and differ from NK cells in strain distribution of activity, expression of cell surface antigens, and sensitivity to interferon and interleukins (12,13). We have recently produced a mouse monoclonal antibody (HNC-1A3) which defines a subpopulation of human natural cytotoxic cells (14).…”