IL-2, IL-4, and IFN-gamma gene expression versus secretion in superantigen-activated T cells. Distinct requirement for costimulatory signals through adhesion molecules.

In the complete absence of APCs staphylococcal superantigens induced IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IFN-gamma, and IL-2R gene transcripts in both highly purified human T cells and FACs sorted CD4+ memory (CD45RA-) T cells. Secretion of IL-2, IL-4, and IFN-gamma, as well as DNA synthesis, on the other hand, required the presence of monocytes. At cytokine gene transcript level, three patterns of expression were noted after superantigen activation of T cells in the presence vs the absence of APC. mRNA levels for IL-2 were markedly up-regulated in the presence of monocytes, IL-4 and IFN-gamma transcripts increased only modestly, and IL-5 and IL-2R mRNA levels were unaffected. Blocking mAbs against LFA-1 and LFA-3 added to staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB)-activated cultures of T cells and autologous monocytes, reproducibly decreased both T cell proliferation and genetic expression of IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-2R, although having little or no effect on IFN-gamma transcripts. Further, under those conditions of blocking, secretion of IL-2 and IL-4 was dramatically decreased, whereas IFN-gamma secretion remained essentially unchanged. In contrast, LFA-1 and LFA-3 mAbs completely abrogated IFN-gamma secretion from PHA-activated T cell-monocyte mixtures, although having no inhibitory effect on T cell proliferation. These results indicate a characteristic and differential involvement of adhesion molecule-mediated signals in superantigen-induced T cell proliferation, differential cytokine gene expression, and cytokine secretion.

Duke Scholars

Author Anand Shreeram Lagoo Pathology

Author Sandhya Anand Lagoo-Deenadayalan Surgery, Minimally Invasive Surgery