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Decrease of lymphokine (interleukin-2)-activated killer activity in peripheral blood after administration of natural
1Third Department of Internal Medicine, University of Tokushima School of Medicine.
Insights
Natural human interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) injections reduced Leu-11a positive cells and lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) activity in healthy volunteers. Natural killer (NK) activity and monokine production remained unchanged, suggesting IFN-gamma impacts LAK precursor recruitment.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) is a cytokine with broad immunomodulatory and anti-tumor effects.
- Its in vivo effects on specific immune cell populations and activities require further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the immunologic parameters of blood mononuclear cells after natural human IFN-gamma administration in a phase I study.
- To investigate the impact of IFN-gamma on Leu-11a positive cells, natural killer (NK) activity, lymphokine (interleukin-2)-activated killer (LAK) activity, and monokine production.
Main Methods:
- Healthy volunteers received intramuscular injections of natural human IFN-gamma.
- Blood mononuclear cells, lymphocytes, and monocytes were analyzed before and 24 hours after injection.
- Measurements included the percentage of Leu-11a positive cells, NK activity, LAK activity, and monokine production.
Main Results:
- A significant reduction in the percentage of Leu-11a positive cells and LAK activity was observed post-IFN-gamma injection.
- Natural killer (NK) activity and monokine production levels remained unchanged.
- These changes suggest IFN-gamma's direct or indirect influence on Leu-11a positive cells.
Conclusions:
- In vivo IFN-gamma administration modulates specific immune cell populations and activities.
- IFN-gamma appears to reduce LAK activity by altering the recruitment of LAK precursors in the blood.
- Further research is warranted to understand the precise mechanisms of IFN-gamma's immunomodulatory effects.
Abstract:
Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) acts on a large array of different types of cell and has potent immunomodulatory activities besides cytotoxic effects on tumors. In a phase I study, some immunologic parameters of blood mononuclear cells from healthy volunteers who received intramuscular injections of natural human IFN-gamma were analyzed. The percentage of Leu-11a positive cells, natural killer (NK) activity, lymphokine (interleukin-2)-activated killer (LAK) activity and monokine production were measured either in blood mononuclear cells or in purified samples of lymphocytes or monocytes of the donors before and 24 h after IFN-gamma injection. After IFN-gamma injection, the percentage of Leu-11a positive cells and the LAK activity in the blood were significantly reduced, but NK activity and monokine production remained unchanged. These findings suggest that in vivo IFN-gamma acts directly or indirectly on Leu-11a positive cells and reduces LAK activity by changing the recruitment of LAK precursors in the blood.