Simultaneous production of IL-2, IL-4, and IFN- gamma by activated human CD4 super(+) and CD8 super(+) T cell clones

• Published in: The Journal of immunology (1950) Vol. 141; no. 3; pp. 849 - 855
• Main Authors: Paliard, X, De Waal Malefijt, R, Yssel, H, Blanchard, D, Chretien, I, Abrams, J, De Vries, J, Spits, H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.01.1988
• ISSN: 0022-1767

The authors have investigated the ability of human T cells to secrete IL-2, IL-4, and IFN- gamma . PBL stimulated with con A or with a combination of the phorbol ester 13-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-12-acetate and the Ca super(2+) ionophore A23187 secreted IL-2, IL-4, and IFN- gamma . Significant IL-2, IL-4, and IFN- gamma production was observed after only 8 h of activation. Maximal levels of IL-2 and IL-4 were found 20 h after the onset of the stimulation. In contrast, IFN- gamma levels continued to increase in a period up to 40 h and then leveled off. In spite of these differences in secretion, the kinetics of accumulation of mRNA did not differ. In a series of 22 CD4 super(+) clones, 21 were able to secrete all three lymphokines upon stimulation. Almost all CD8 super(+) clones were able to produce IL-2 and IFN- gamma , but only six of the 23 CD8 super(+) T cell clones secreted IL-4. A supernatant of the CD4 super(+) T cell clone GEO-2, that contained high levels of IFN- gamma and IL-4, was unable to induce the low affinity receptor for IgE, CD23, on a Burkitt lymphoma cell line. However, after separation of IL-4 from IFN- gamma by using HPLC, the IL-4-containing fraction-induced CD23, which could be blocked by the fraction that contained IFN- gamma and by a polyclonal rabbit anti-IL-4 antiserum.