Modulation of human natural killer cell activity by recombinant human interleukin 2

Recombinant human IL-2, secreted by yeast harboring a plasmid containing a synthetic IL-2 gene, is biologically active in augmenting human natural killer (NK) cell activity. A dose-dependent linear stimulation of NK activity was obtained against the chronic myelogenous leukemia cell line K562 over the range 3 to 300 units/ml of IL-2. Enhancement of NK activity was similarly demonstrable against the less NK-sensitive carcinoma cell lines LoVo and SKOSC. IL-2 could also be demonstrated to augment antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) against SKOSC targets. IL-2 responsiveness segregated with a non-E-rosetting fraction comprising 11% of postfractionation lymphocytes and containing 94% of the recoverable NK activity, suggesting that IL-2 might operate directly upon the NK cell rather than through an accessory cell. This is believed to be the first demonstration of NK stimulatory activity by the product of a totally synthetic human IL-2 gene. The availability, purity, and NK-enhancing properties of the recombinant IL-2 make it a potentially important agent for clinical trial.