Human Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) Containing Cells Bear Various Surface Phenotypic Markers

• Published in: MICROBIOLOGY and IMMUNOLOGY Vol. 30; no. 10; pp. 1049 - 1059
• Main Authors: Sugawara, Isamu, Kitagawa, Hiroshi, Inagaki, Hirofumi, De Ley, Mark, Fukuda, Akio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Tokyo Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.01.1986; Center For Academic Publications Japan; Center for Academic Publications Japan
• Subjects: Analysis of the immune response. Humoral and cellular immunity; Antibodies, Monoclonal - immunology; Antigens, Surface - analysis; Antiviral drugs; Biological and medical sciences; Biotechnology; Concanavalin A - pharmacology; Cyclosporins - pharmacology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; Glycyrrhetinic Acid - analogs & derivatives; Glycyrrhetinic Acid - pharmacology; Glycyrrhizic Acid; Health. Pharmaceutical industry; Humans; Immunobiology; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Interferon-gamma - metabolism; Leukocytes - classification; Leukocytes - immunology; Leukocytes - metabolism; Miscellaneous; Monocytes - classification; Monocytes - immunology; ortho-Aminobenzoates - pharmacology; Production of active biomolecules; Regulatory factors and their cellular receptors; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer - immunology; Characterization; Human; Monocyte; T-Lymphocyte; Production; Cell; Cell surface; Gamma interferon; Biological receptor
• ISSN: 0385-5600; 1348-0421
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1348-0421.1986.tb03034.x

We explored the population of Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) containing cells in order to clarify their cell surface phenotypic markers. Here we define γ-IFN containing cells as γ-IFN plaque forming cells (PFC). By this method, it was found that IFN-γ containing cells consist of two cell fractions, i.e., OKT3+, OKT4+, and OKT8- cells and OKM1+ cells. Effective IFN-γ production seems to require participation of plastic-adherent cells (presumably monocytes), while the addition of cyclosporin A (CyA) almost completely blocked generation of human IFN-γ. To characterize Con A-stimulated IFN-γ containing cells, we performed two-color flow cytometry using FACS IV. Most of the IFN-γ containing cells have surface phenotypic markers for Leu3, Leu8, Leu15, HLA-DR, and IL-2 receptors, but most lack markers for Leu2 and Leu7. Interestingly, most of Leu3+ and IL-2 receptor+ cells belong to the dimly illuminating cell fractions of the IFN-γ containing cell population. Our results indicate that IFN-γ containing cells are heterogeneous with respect to surface phenotypic markers but the predominant IFN-γ containing cell type is the helper T cell (OKT4+). Lastly, OK432, glycyrrhizin, and CCA (lobenzarit disodium) increase the number of IFN-γ containing cells and are thought to be immunomodulators.