人白细胞介素家族的新成员—IL—19，IL—20，IL—21，IL—22，IL—23

白细胞介素是激活的T细胞分泌的一类细胞因子,它们在免疫调节中发挥重要作用,具有很高的临床应用价值。迄今为止,已有23种人白细胞介素被发现,构成了一个庞大的家族,其中2000－2001年间,就有5种人白细胞介素家族最新成员的序列被阐明,本文简单介绍了它们的结构,诱导表达方式,功能,及其信号相关受体等各个方面的最新研究进展。     

IL—1RAcP的研究进展

IL－1是一重要的炎性细胞因子。它参与介导类风湿关节炎、系统性红斑狼疮等自身免疫性疾病的病理过程。IL－1受体家族有IL－1RI、IL－1RⅡ和IL－1RAcP(IL-1 receptor accessory protein,白细胞介素1受体辅助蛋白）。IL－1RI是功能性受体,IL－1RⅡ是“伪受体”,IL－1RAcP是近年来发现的参与IL－1信号传导的重要分子,它的表达与否的细胞对IL－1的反应相关。醉综述了IL－1RAcP对IL－1与IL－1R结合的影响,IL－1RAcP参与的信号转导及其可能的调节机制。     

双歧杆菌对裸鼠腹腔巨噬细胞产生IL—1及IL—6的影响

给裸小鼠腹腔注射活的青春型双歧杆菌,并以小鼠胸腺细胞增殖法及ＥＬＩＳＡ法分别检测了裸鼠腹腔巨噬细胞分泌的ＩＬ１活性及ＩＬ６含量。结果表明：实验组裸鼠腹腔巨噬细胞分泌的ＩＬ１活性以及ＩＬ６含量均显著高于对照组,两者均具有统计学意义（ｐ＜００１）。这提示青春型双歧杆菌可激活巨噬细胞产生ＩＬ１以及ＩＬ６,它们在该菌调节机体免疫反应中可能起一定作用。     

IL—9及其受体的分子生物学

白细胞介素９是近年来发现的一种参与造血调控及免疫应答等诸多生理过程的细胞因子,本简介白细胞介素９及其受体的生物化学性质、基因结构与表达调控,概述其受体介导的细胞内信号传递过程。     

IL—12抗病毒作用的研究

白细胞介素－１２（ＩＬ－２）是一种异源二聚体细胞因子。ＩＬ－１２通过调节Ｔｈ１／Ｔｈ２细胞分化,诱导ＩＦＮ－γ等细胞因子的生成,与ＩＬ－１２雷同作用增强ＮＫ细胞、ＬＡＫ细胞及ＣＴＬ细胞活性发挥抗病毒作用。本文介绍ＩＬ－１２的分子生物学,生物学活性及抗病毒作用的研究进展。     

应用流式细胞仪研究抗IL——8单抗对IL——8激活人颗粒细胞活力的中和作用

以ＩＬ－８免疫的ＢＡＬＢ／Ｃ小鼠脾细胞与Ｓｐ２／０或６５３小鼠骨髓瘤细胞融合构建了淋巴细胞杂交瘤克隆Ｉ８－Ｓ２和Ｉ８－６３。ＥＬＩＳＡ叠加试验（ＥＬＩＳＡ Ａｄｄｉｔｉｖｉｔｙ Ｔｅｓｔ）表明这两杂交瘤克隆分泌的单抗分别识别ＩＬ－８分子的不同表位。ＩＬ－８能激活人颗粒细胞,引起细胞内Ｃａ＾２＋浓度（「Ｃａ＾２＋」）上升。通过流式细胞仪分析「Ｃａ＾２＋」的变化,发现两个克隆单抗对ＩＬ－８激活细胞的活     

IL—18信号转导途径研究进展

白细胞介素１８（ＩＬ－１８）是新近发现的细胞因子,其独特的少ＴＡＴＡ型启动子、特殊的ｍＲＮＡ结构及其前体蛋白需ＩＬ－１β转化酶（ＩＣＥ）加工成熟的特点,便得ＩＬ－１８基因可广泛表达于多种类型的细胞,ＩＬ－１８ＩＬ－１８受体结合组成受体复合物,受体复合物信号通过ＩＲＡＫ－ＴＲＡＦ６途径激活ＮＦ－кＢ,及通过酪氨酸蛋白激酶（ＰＴＫ）的ＬＣＫ－ＭＡＰＫ信号途径诱导ＴＨ１细胞产生ＩＦＮ－γ、ＩＬ－２等细胞     

人胎脾细胞IL-2和IL-6的产生及其与NK细胞功能发育的关系

人类胚胎发育时期,脾细胞IL-2和IL-6的产生及其与NK细胞功能发育关系的研究结果表明,胚胎20周龄前IL-2的活性和NK活性细胞基本缺乏,但可分泌低水平的IL-6;随个体发育,IL-2、IL-6的产生和NK细胞活性均逐渐增强,三者间呈直线正相关关系(r>0.86);出生前,IL-6的产生和NK细胞活性显著低于成人组(p<0.01),而IL-2的产生巳达成人水平(p>0.05)。最后,对在胚胎发育过程中IL-2和IL-6的产生,及其与NK细胞功能发育间的关系进行了讨论。     

STAT6-dependent differentiation and production of IL-5 and IL-13 in murine NK2 cells

NK cells differentiate into either NK1 or NK2 cells that produce IFN-gamma or IL-5 and IL-13, respectively. Little is known, however, about the molecular mechanisms that control NK1 and NK2 cell differentiation. To address these questions, we established an in vitro mouse NK1/NK2 cell differentiation culture system. For NK1/NK2 cell differentiation, initial stimulation with PMA and ionomycin was required. The in vitro differentiated NK2 cells produced IL-5 and IL-13, but the levels were 20 times lower than those of Th2 or T cytotoxic (Tc)2 cells. No detectable IL-4 was produced. Freshly prepared NK cells express IL-2Rbeta, IL-2RgammaC, and IL-4Ralpha. After stimulation with PMA and ionomycin, NK cells expressed IL-2Ralpha. NK1 cells displayed higher cytotoxic activity against Yac-1 target cells. The levels of GATA3 protein in developing NK2 cells were approximately one-sixth of those in Th2 cells. Both NK1 and NK2 cells expressed large amounts of repressor of GATA, the levels of which were equivalent to CD8 Tc1 and Tc2 cells and significantly higher than those in Th2 cells. The levels of histone hyperacetylation of the IL-4 and IL-13 gene loci in NK2 cells were very low and equivalent to those in naive CD4 T cells. The production of IL-5 and IL-13 in NK2 cells was found to be STAT6 dependent. Thus, similar to Th2 cells, NK2 cell development is dependent on STAT6, and the low level expression of GATA3 and the high level expression of repressor of GATA may influence the unique type 2 cytokine production profiles of NK2 cells.     

A comparative study of IL-12 (cytotoxic lymphocyte maturation factor)-, IL-2-, and IL-7-induced effects on immunomagnetically purified CD56+ NK cells.

IL-12, or cytotoxic lymphocyte maturation factor, is a recently cloned cytokine shown to influence lymphokine-activated killer cells activity in heterogeneous lymphocyte populations, proliferative activity as a costimulus in PBMC/PBL populations and IFN-gamma production in PBL. We have investigated the effects of IL-12 on immunomagnetically highly purified CD56+ lymphocytes, and compared the effects with those of IL-7 and IL-2. Our results show that IL-12 directly generated high lymphokine-activated killer cell activity in CD56+ NK cells, without the need for accessory cells. The IL-12-induced lymphokine-activated killer cell activity reached 50% of what was obtained with IL-2. In contrast, only low proliferative activity was induced by IL-12, as 10% of the IL-2-induced- and approximately 50% of the IL-7-induced proliferative activity was detected with IL-12. The CD56+ cells expressed high levels of IL-2R alpha and 75-kDa TNFR in response to IL-12, comparable to what was registered with IL-2 and IL-7. Furthermore, an extensive up-regulation of the CD56 Ag, to the level obtained with IL-2, was detected in the CD56+ NK cells in the presence of IL-12. Stimulation with IL-7 resulted in a more limited CD56 up-regulation in the CD56+ NK cells. Low concentrations of TNF-alpha were produced in response to both IL-12 and IL-7, with little or no TNF-beta production. Time course of the IL-2-induced TNF production revealed an initial TNF-alpha production, whereas significant levels of TNF-beta were detected after 72 h. The effects of both IL-12 and IL-7 on the CD56+ NK cells were inhibited by an anti-TNF-alpha mAb. Thus, IL-12 can directly influence NK cell activities in purified CD56+ cells, and endogenously produced TNF-alpha is involved in mediating the effects of both IL-12 and IL-7.     

IL-2 induces expression of serine protease enzymes and genes in natural killer and nonspecific T killer cells

The expression of serine protease genes was examined in murine NK cells that were purified by panning spleen cells with PMA. Although unstimulated NK cells were cytolytic, they were found not to express the C11 (chymotrypsin-like) mRNA. Culturing these cells in IL-2 (500 to 800 U/ml) for 5 to 7 days induced both the lytic activities and the protease enzymes by 20- to 30-fold. Concomitant to these activation events, the total steady state mRNA of both C11 and HF (trypsin-like) genes were also elevated. The activation of lysis, serine protease enzymes, and C11 and HF mRNA all peaked around day 5 in culture and was dose dependent. In order to exclude the possibility that PMA synergizes with IL-2 in this system, spleen cells from SCID mice, which contained mainly NK cells, were cultured under the same conditions (800 U/ml IL-2, with or without PMA) and PMA did not appear to enhance the expression of these mRNA. Similarly, IL-2 also induced the lytic activities, enzyme levels, and mRNA in the non-Ag-specific T killer cells isolated from spleens of normal mice. Lytic activity of T killer cells was not as high as the NK cells, however, the addition of PHA into the lytic assay resulted in enhanced lysis comparable to that of NK cells. These results showed that lytic activity increased along with protease enzyme levels and mRNA expression in both NK and resting T cells. Therefore, elevated levels of the protease enzymes could be one mechanism involved in optimal lytic activity of IL-2-induced lymphokine activated killer cells.     

Comparison of the effect of IL-2 and IL-6 on the lytic activity of purified human peripheral blood large granular lymphocytes

The effects of IL-6 and IL-2 on highly purified, human peripheral blood large granular lymphocytes (LGL) were investigated and compared. IL-6 enhanced LGL NK activity in a dose-dependent manner against K562, however IL-2 was a more potent stimulus of LGL NK function. Neither IL-2 nor IL-6 increased LGL cytotoxic potential in a parallel estimation of heteroconjugated antibody (anti-CD16 x anti-nitrophenyl mAb)-dependent cytotoxicity against nitrophenyl-modified YAC. Unlike IL-2, IL-6 did not significantly induce LGL lymphokine-activated killer activity, LGL proliferation, or LGL lymphokine production. In particular, IL-6 did not stimulate detectable LGL IL-2 production or IL-2R modulation, and mAb to the p75 IL-2R had no effect on IL-6 induction of LGL NK activity. Therefore, in the absence of T cells, IL-6 provided an IL-2-independent signal to LGL that resulted in augmentation of their NK activity without stimulating their proliferation or other LGL functions.     

Natural killer and lymphokine-activated killer cell activities from human marrow precursors. II. The effects of IL-3 and IL-4

Both IL-3 and IL-4 have multi-CSF activity on early marrow progenitors. We have examined the effect of IL-3 and IL-4 on the differentiation of NK cells from their marrow-derived precursors and have further examined the interactions of these cytokines with IL-2 and IL-1. We tested marrow which had been depleted of mature cells and of E rosette-positive cells (including NK cells) by treatment with soybean lectin and SRBC (SBA-E-BM). The cytolytic activities of the SBA-E-BM samples were tested in 51Cr-release assays after 7 days of liquid culture. K562 targets were used as a measure of NK activity and NK-resistant Daudi targets were used to measure lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cell activity. Neither NK nor LAK activity was detectable in marrow cultured in medium without cytokines, or in medium containing IL-3, or IL-4 alone. Both of these cytokines were shown to be inhibitory to the IL-2-induced generation of NK and LAK activity from SBA-E-BM at concentrations as low as 1 U/ml. The inhibitory activity of both IL-3 and IL-4 was found to occur early in the marrow cultures, with little or no inhibitory effects seen if added 48 h after IL-2. IL-3 appeared to be specifically inhibitory to NK cell precursors since addition of IL-3 to cultures of PBMC did not inhibit IL-2-induced lytic activities. In contrast, IL-4 was equally inhibitory to the activation of marrow and peripheral blood NK cells by IL-2. Mixing experiments demonstrated that the reduced lytic activity in IL-3 or IL-4 containing marrow cultures were not due to suppression of the NK effectors, nor could marrow cultured in IL-3 or IL-4 serve as targets for IL-2-activated NK cells. Phenotype analysis of the lymphoid cells in marrow cultures containing IL-2 combined with IL-3 or IL-4 revealed fewer cells expressing Leu-11 (CD16), or Leu-19 (CD56) and fewer CD16, CD56 coexpressing cells compared with marrow cultured in medium containing IL-2 alone. The inhibitory activity of IL-4, but not IL-3, could be partially reversed if IL-1 was added to the cultures, suggesting that IL-1 and IL-4 have opposing activities on NK cells responsiveness to IL-2. These interactions between cytokines might be important in the regulation of NK cell differentiation and on the functional activity of mature NK cells.     

The role of transferrin in natural killer cell and IL-2-induced cytotoxic cell function

The growth factor transferrin (Tf) enhanced natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity. This enhancement was due to direct effects on NK cell function, and Tf treatment of the K562 target cell had no effect on their sensitivity. NK cells were highly enriched in the low-density large granular lymphocyte population (LGL) by Percoll gradient centrifugation. Despite the direct effect of Tf on NK cells, the number of cells expressing receptors for Tf (TfR) in NK-enriched LGL was the same as the NK-cell-depleted high-density small lymphocyte population (SL). All populations, tested without stimulation, had very few TfR+ cells. Interleukin 2 (IL-2) could induce very high NK-like activity in the LGL but not in SL. Similarly, only LGL could be induced by IL-2 to express TfR. In serum-free cultures, only limited NK-like activity could be developed which was greatly enhanced by supplementing with Tf in the cultures. The importance of Tf in NK-like development was confirmed by modulating the expression of TfR in IL-2 containing cultures with mouse monoclonal antibody OKT9 specific for TfR. OKT9 totally abrogated the induction of cytotoxic activity by IL-2 against K562 and NK-resistant target. OKT9 inhibited the induction of cytotoxicity in both lymphocytes containing active NK cells and in those predepleted of active NK cells, indicating that the development of NK-like activity from both precursor populations requires Tf. The inhibition by OKT9 was only during the induction phase. The same antibody had no effect on the cytotoxicity of fresh NK cells or the mature IL-2-induced NK-like cells. Our data therefore do not support the hypothesis of TfR as the NK recognition structure. Instead, these results indicate that Tf is important for the development of NK and NK-like activities.     

The role of IL-4 in proliferation and differentiation of human natural killer cells. Study of an IL-4-dependent versus an IL-2-dependent natural killer cell clone

The role of IL-4 in proliferation and differentiation of human NK cells was studied using newly established sublines of an IL-4-dependent NK cell clone (IL4d-NK cells) and an IL-2-dependent NK cell clone (IL2d-NK cells) derived from a parental conditioned medium-dependent NK cell clone (CM-NK cells). IL-4 induced the higher proliferation of CM-NK cells, but abolished their NK activity and decreased CD16 and CD56 Ag expression. In contrast, IL-2 induced the higher NK activity and increased CD16 and CD56 Ag expression. Addition of anti-IL-4 antibody to the culture of CM-NK cells with CM inhibited the proliferation, but slightly increased NK activity, and largely increased CD56 Ag expression. Addition of anti-IL-2 antibody to the culture of CM-NK cells with CM inhibited both proliferation and cytotoxicity. Proliferation of IL4d-NK cells, which is totally dependent on rIL-4, is greater than that of IL2d-NK cells, which was greater than parental CM-NK cells. Morphologically, IL4d-NK cells are small and round, whereas IL2d-NK cells are large and elongated. Anti-IL-4 antibody inhibited proliferation of IL4d-NK but not IL2d-NK cells, whereas anti-IL-2 antibody inhibited that of IL2d-NK but not IL4d-NK cells. IL-2 was not detected in the supernatant from IL4d-NK cells, nor was IL-2-mRNA expressed in IL4d-NK cells. In contrast, IFN-gamma production and protein expression in IL4d- and IL2d-NK cells were detected. NK cell activation markers (CD16 and CD56) were expressed on IL2d-NK cells but not IL4d-NK cells. IL4d-NK cells were not cytotoxic to any tumor cells tested, whereas IL2d-NK cells displayed potent NK activity and lymphokine-activated killer activity. IL4d-NK cells failed to bind K562 tumor cells, whereas one-third of the IL2d-NK cells did. IL4d-NK cells responded to rIL-2, proliferated, and differentiated into cytotoxic NK cells, whereas IL2d-NK cells failed to respond to rIL-4 and died. These results raise a possibility that IL4d-NK cells or IL2d-NK cells primarily represent the immunologic properties of immature or activated types of human NK cells, respectively. Our results provide the first evidence of the capability of IL-4 to support continuous proliferation of a lymphocyte clone with immature NK cell characteristics and to stimulate IFN-gamma production in the clone. IL-4 is suggested as a potential growth factor for certain types of human NK cell progenitors.     

Cytokine production and killer activity of NK/T-NK cells derived with IL-2, IL-15, or the combination of IL-12 and IL-18

NK cell populations were derived from murine splenocytes stimulated by IL-2, IL-15, or the combination of IL-12 and IL-18. Whereas NK cells derived with the latter cytokines consisted of an homogeneous population of NK cells (DX5+CD3-), those derived with IL-2 or IL-15 belonged to two different populations, namely NK cells (DX5+CD3-) and T-NK cells (DX5+CD3+). Among NK cells, only those derived with IL-12/IL-18 produced detectable levels of cytokines, namely IFN-gamma, IL-10, and IL-13 (with the exception of IL-13 production by NK cells derived with IL-2). As for T-NK cells, IL-2-stimulated cells produced a wide range of cytokines, including IL-4, IL-5, IL-9, IL-10, and IL-13, but no IFN-gamma, whereas IL-15-derived T-NK cells failed to produce any cytokine. Switch-culture experiments indicated that T-NK cells derived in IL-2 and further stimulated with IL-12/IL-18 produced IFN-gamma and higher IL-13 levels. Next, we observed that NK/T-NK cell populations exerted distinct effects on Ig production by autologous splenocytes according to the cytokines with which they were derived. Thus, addition of NK cells derived in IL-12/IL-18 inhibited Ig production and induced strong cytotoxicity against splenocytes, whereas addition of NK or T-NK cells grown in IL-2 or IL-15 did not. Experiments performed in IFN-gammaR knockout mice demonstrated that IFN-gamma was not involved in the killer activity of IL-12/IL-18-derived NK cells. The hypothesis that their cytotoxic activity was related to the induction of target apoptosis was confirmed on murine A20 lymphoma cells. Experiments performed in MRL/lpr mice indicated that IL-12/IL-18-derived NK cells displayed their distinct killer activity through a Fas-independent pathway. Finally, perforin was much more expressed in IL-12/IL-18-derived NK cells as compared with IL-2- or IL-15-derived NK cells, an observation that might explain their unique cytotoxicity.     

Studies on the mechanism of low natural killer cell activity in infant and aged mice

NK activity in mice is high between about 6 and 10 weeks of age. In contrast, infant mice and mice older than 12-14 weeks of age usually have quite low or undetectable NK activity. Studies were performed to analyze the mechanisms underlying this characteristic age-related regulation of NK activity. Spleen cells from infant mice did not develop appreciable NK activity upon incubation for 12-18 h with either interferon (IFN) or interleukin-2 (IL-2). Analysis of the frequency of IL-2-dependent progenitors of NK cells, in a limiting dilution assay, also indicated that the spleens of infant mice are deficient in precursors of NK cells. In contrast, spleen cells from old mice (30 weeks old) developed substantial levels of NK activity upon incubation with either IFN or IL-2, and they showed a frequency of IL-2-dependent progenitors of effector cells that was similar to that of young mice. Both infant and old mice had plastic-adherent suppressor cells in their spleens, which could strongly inhibit NK activity. In addition, both infant and old mouse spleen cells contained nonadherent suppressor cells, which had a higher density on Percoll gradients than NK cells. Thus, several factors appear to contribute to the age-related regulation of NK activity in mice.