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Recombinant interleukin-2 directly augments the cytotoxicity of human monocytes

Nature volume 325, pages 262–265 (1987)Cite this article

Abstract

Interleukin-2 (IL-2), originally described as a growth factor required for sustained proliferation of T cells in vitro1,2 is a glycoprotein hormone of known structure3 which appears to be important for the generation of immune responses in vivo4. As well as T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes5 and large granular lymphocytes with natural killer activity (NK cells)6 can also respond to IL-2. The action of IL-2 seemed to be limited specifically to lymphocytes, however, and the term 'T-lymphocytotrophic hormone' was used7. Here we provide evidence that human monocytes display a substantially increased cytotoxic activity as a direct and rapid response to human recombinant IL-2 but not to human recombinant glycosylated interferon-γ (IFN-γ) or lipopolysac-charide. Our results reveal a previously unknown function of IL-2 and suggest its possible involvement in monocyte-T cell interactions.

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Author notes

  1. Walter Fiers: Laboratory of Molecular Biology, State Universtiy of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium

Authors and Affiliations

  1. MRC Clinical Research Centre, Watford Road, Harrow, Middlesex, HA1 3UJ, UK

    Miroslav Malkovský, Bruce Loveland, Margaret North, Geoffrey L. Asherson, Liquan Gao, Peter Ward & Walter Fiers

Authors
  1. Miroslav Malkovský
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  2. Bruce Loveland
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  3. Margaret North
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  4. Geoffrey L. Asherson
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  5. Liquan Gao
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  6. Peter Ward
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  7. Walter Fiers
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Malkovský, M., Loveland, B., North, M. et al. Recombinant interleukin-2 directly augments the cytotoxicity of human monocytes. Nature 325, 262–265 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1038/325262a0

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