Abstract
The role of costimulatory signals in T cell induction was evaluated in mice lacking the interleukin-2 (IL-2) gene. In vitro secondary antiviral T cell responses were absent unless IL-2 was added, confirming the crucial role of IL-2 in vitro. In vivo, primary and secondary cytotoxic T cell responses against vaccinia and lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus were within normal ranges. B cell reactivity to vesicular stomatitis virus was not impaired. T helper cell responses were delayed but biologically functional. Natural killer cell activity was markedly reduced but inducible. These normal in vivo immune responses in IL-2-deficient mice question the importance of IL-2 as defined by in vitro studies.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Antibodies, Viral / biosynthesis*
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B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
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Cytotoxicity, Immunologic
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Immunoglobulin M / biosynthesis*
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Immunologic Memory
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Interleukin-2 / deficiency
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Interleukin-2 / immunology*
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Killer Cells, Natural / immunology
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Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis / immunology
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Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus / immunology
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Neutralization Tests
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Rhabdoviridae Infections / immunology
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T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
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T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / immunology
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Vaccinia / immunology
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Vaccinia virus / immunology
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Vesicular stomatitis Indiana virus / immunology
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Virus Diseases / immunology*
Substances
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Antibodies, Viral
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Immunoglobulin M
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Interleukin-2