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. 1988 Nov;65(3):357–364.

Activation and proliferation of normal resting human T lymphocytes in serum-free culture: role of IL-4 and IL-6

D Habetswallner, E Pelosi, D Bulgarini, A Camagna, P Samoggia, E Montesoro, G Giannella, D Lazzaro, G Isacchi, U Testa, C Peschle
PMCID: PMC1385472  PMID: 3264807

Abstract

Purified human T lymphocytes, completely depleted of accessory cells [i.e. monocytes, large granular lymphocytes (LGL) and B lymphocytes], have been grown in serum-free culture in presence of a mitogenic lectin (phytohaemagglutinin, PHA) and different recombinant cytokines. Only IL-2 and IL-4 induced a marked stimulation of [3H] thymidine ([3H]TdR) uptake, cell proliferation and expression of activation markers [transferrin receptor (TrfR), IL-2R]. The other cytokines (IL-1α, IL-1β, IFN-γ, GM-CSF, TNF-α) had no significant effect, except for a moderate, but significant, stimulation of [3H]TdR uptake induced by IL-3. Simultaneous addition of IL-4 and anti-IL-2 neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (mAb) did not modify the effects induced by IL-4 alone. Furthermore, IL-2 was not detected in the supernatant of T cells grown in the presence of PHA and IL-4. Thus, our results indicate that IL-4 acts on T lymphocytes independently of IL-2. We also observed that IL-6 moderately activates DNA synthesis in PHA-stimulated T lymphocytes, but markedly potentiates the proliferative effect of suboptimal amounts of IL-2. In conclusion, the present study suggests that B-cell growth factors, in addition to IL-2, control the proliferation of normal circulating T lymphocytes.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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