Effects of rat interleukin-2 and rat interferon on the natural killer cell activity of rat spleen cells after thermal injury

J Burn Care Rehabil. 1992 Nov-Dec;13(6):617-22. doi: 10.1097/00004630-199211000-00002.

Abstract

The natural killer cell activity of splenocytes from rats with scald injury was observed to be significantly suppressed at 7 days after injury compared with that of normal nonburned controls. Incubation of splenocytes from normal rats or rats with burn injury with either rat interleukin-2 or rat interferon (IFN-alpha and IFN-beta) significantly increased the natural killer cell activity. Addition of a rabbit anti-rat interferon antibody to spleen cells incubated with interleukin-2 did not produce any significant alteration in interleukin-2-related enhancement of natural killer cell activity. These results suggest that enhancement of natural killer cell activity after incubation of splenocytes with interleukin-2 is not due to interferon production but is an independent event. Preincubation of spleen cells with a mouse monoclonal antibody to rat interleukin-2 receptor was observed to abolish the interleukin-2-related enhancement of natural killer cell activity completely, whereas it partially blocked the interferon-related enhancement. These results were also confirmed by enhancement of natural killer cell activity of burned rats after in vivo administration of interleukin-2. Our studies thus indicate that after thermal injury, the observed decrease of natural killer cell activity can be enhanced by both interleukin-2 and interferon independently of each other. The decreased natural killer cell activity may be due to a decrease in interleukin-2 production or availability and not to an interleukin-2 receptor defect. These studies thus point toward a potential therapeutic significance of interleukin-2 in enhancing immune function after thermal injury.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Burns / immunology*
  • Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / immunology
  • Interferon-alpha / immunology*
  • Interferon-beta / immunology*
  • Interleukin-2 / immunology*
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Spleen / cytology
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Interferon-alpha
  • Interleukin-2
  • Interferon-beta