Abstract
Interleukin-2 (IL-2), which is a growth factor for T lymphocytes, can also sometimes be inhibitory. Thus, the proliferation of CD8+ T cells in vivo is increased after the injection of a monoclonal antibody that is specific for IL-2 (IL-2 mAb), perhaps reflecting the removal of IL-2-dependent CD4+ T regulatory cells (T regs). Instead, we show here that IL-2 mAb augments the proliferation of CD8+ cells in mice simply by increasing the biological activity of preexisting IL-2 through the formation of immune complexes. When coupled with recombinant IL-2, some IL-2/IL-2 mAb complexes cause massive (>100-fold) expansion of CD8+ cells in vivo, whereas others selectively stimulate CD4+ T regs. Thus, different cytokine-antibody complexes can be used to selectively boost or inhibit the immune response.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Adoptive Transfer
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Animals
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Antibodies, Monoclonal / immunology*
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Antibodies, Monoclonal / pharmacology
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Antigen-Antibody Complex / immunology*
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CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / cytology
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CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
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Cell Proliferation
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Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
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Immunologic Memory
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Interleukin-2 / immunology*
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Interleukin-2 / pharmacology
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Interleukin-4 / immunology
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Lymphocyte Activation*
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Lymphocyte Count
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Receptors, Interleukin-2 / analysis
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Receptors, Interleukin-2 / immunology
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Receptors, Interleukin-2 / metabolism
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Recombinant Proteins / pharmacology
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T-Lymphocyte Subsets / cytology
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T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology*
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T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology
Substances
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Antibodies, Monoclonal
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Antigen-Antibody Complex
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Interleukin-2
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Receptors, Interleukin-2
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Recombinant Proteins
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Interleukin-4