       Document 0083
 DOCN  M9640083
 TI    IL-2 rescues antigen-specific T cells from radiation or
       dexamethasone-induced apoptosis. Correlation with induction of Bcl-2.
 DT    9604
 AU    Mor F; Cohen IR; Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of
       Science, Rehovot,; Israel.
 SO    J Immunol. 1996 Jan 15;156(2):515-22. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       GENBANK/L14680
 AB    Most studies of apoptosis on T lymphocytes have examined the effects of
       various stimuli on immature T cells from the thymus. Previous work has
       indicated that apoptosis of mature memory T cells may be an important
       pathophysiologic mechanism in diseases such as AIDS, cancer, and
       autoimmunity. The effect of IL-2 on apoptosis of T cells is not clear.
       Therefore, we studied the ability of IL-2 to rescue Ag-specific T cells
       from apoptosis. We found that IL-2, in a dose-dependent manner,
       prevented T cells from entering apoptosis induced by gamma-irradiation,
       mitomycin C, or dexamethasone. This effect was specific for IL-2; IL-1
       beta, IL-6, or IFN-gamma could not reproduce it. In contrast to
       Ag-specific T cells, immature T cells and naive mature peripheral T
       cells could not be rescued by IL-2 from radiation-induced apoptosis.
       Apoptosis rescue by IL-2 was associated with the induction of bcl-2 mRNA
       and protein. This induction could not be attributed to the effects of
       IL-2 on the cell cycle, as T cells that were prevented from cell cycle
       progression by irradiation showed a similar induction of bcl-2. Rescued
       cells retained their Ag-specific proliferative capacity and in vivo
       functions. These findings demonstrate that the apoptotic death of
       Ag-specific T cell lines, cells which can be regarded as a model for
       memory T cells, can be prevented with IL-2. This effect may have
       important therapeutic implications for patients receiving chemotherapy
       or radiotherapy, and for patients with AIDS who develop immunodeficiency
       primarily as a result of loss of Ag-specific memory T cells.
 DE    Amino Acid Sequence  Animal  Antigens/IMMUNOLOGY  Apoptosis/*DRUG
       EFFECTS/RADIATION EFFECTS  Base Sequence  Cells, Cultured
       Dexamethasone/*PHARMACOLOGY  Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
       Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation  Encephalomyelitis,
       Allergic/IMMUNOLOGY  Female  Gamma Rays  Guinea Pigs  Hamsters
       *Immunologic Memory  Interferon Type II/PHARMACOLOGY
       Interleukin-2/*PHARMACOLOGY  Interleukins/PHARMACOLOGY  Lymph
       Nodes/CYTOLOGY  Lymphocyte Transformation  Mitomycin C/PHARMACOLOGY
       Molecular Sequence Data  Peptide Fragments/IMMUNOLOGY  Proto-Oncogene
       Proteins/PHYSIOLOGY  Rats  Rats, Inbred Lew  Receptors,
       Interleukin-2/PHYSIOLOGY  T-Lymphocyte Subsets/*DRUG EFFECTS/RADIATION
       EFFECTS  JOURNAL ARTICLE

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).

