Retrovirus-mediated immunosuppression. II. FeLV-UV alters in vitro murine T lymphocyte behavior by reversibly impairing lymphokine secretion

• Published in: The Journal of immunology (1950) Vol. 135; no. 1; pp. 583 - 590
• Main Authors: Orosz, CG, Zinn, NE, Olsen, RG, Mathes, LE
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Am Assoc Immnol 01.07.1985
• Subjects: Animals; Clone Cells - immunology; Clone Cells - metabolism; Female; Immunosuppression; Interleukin-2 - metabolism; Leukemia Virus, Feline - physiology; Leukemia Virus, Feline - radiation effects; Lymphocyte Activation; Lymphokines - biosynthesis; Macrophage-Activating Factors; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Inbred DBA; T-Lymphocytes - immunology; T-Lymphocytes - metabolism; Ultraviolet Rays
• ISSN: 0022-1767; 1550-6606
• DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.135.1.583

Murine splenocytes and cloned murine T cells were used to study the in vitro immunosuppressive effects of UV-inactivated feline leukemia virus (FeLV-UV) on lymphokine secretion. FeLV-UV can significantly depress the accumulation of IL 2 in cultures of Con A-stimulated C57BL/6 splenocytes and in cultures containing the alloreactive helper T cell clone B6D/2-2m plus Con A. Inhibition of lymphokine accumulation in these cultures could not be attributed to absorption or inactivation of IL 2 by the FeLV-UV or to the FeLV-UV-induced production of substances which interfere with the IL 2 bioassay. Thus, FeLV-UV appears to block production and/or secretion of IL 2 by a direct inhibitory effect on IL 2-secreting murine T lymphocytes. Additional studies indicate that FeLV-UV impairs IL 2 production only if added very soon after lymphocyte contact with lymphokine-inducing agents and that IL 2 secretion resumes when FeLV-UV is removed from the culture. FeLV-UV also impairs accumulation of MAF (interferon-gamma?) in cultures of Con A-stimulated C57BL/6 splenocytes and in cultures containing the alloreactive cytotoxic T lymphocyte clone B6D/2-7c plus Con A. The latter observation again suggests that FeLV-UV impairs lymphokine secretion by a direct effect on lymphokine-producing T lymphocytes. Furthermore, it suggests that FeLV-UV does not selectively impair production of IL 2 nor does it have selective inhibitory effects on helper T cells. Rather, FeLV-UV appears to have a general inhibitory effect on lymphokine production by T lymphocytes. Finally, concentrations of FeLV-UV which suppress MAF production by the CTL clone have little influence on the cytolysis mediated by the same cloned T cell population. Thus, the immunosuppressive influence of FeLV-UV is selective for phenomena associated with induction of new T lymphocyte functions, such as lymphokine secretion, and spares other immune functions already expressed by the same cells.