TY - JOUR

T1 - Induction of cytotoxic CD8+CD56+ T cells from human thymocytes by interleukin-15.

AU - Thulesen, S

AU - Nissen, Mogens Holst

AU - Ødum, N

AU - Röpke, C

N1 - Keywords: Antigens, CD56; Blood; Cells, Cultured; Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; Humans; Immunologic Memory; Immunophenotyping; Interleukin-12; Interleukin-15; Receptors, Interleukin-15; Receptors, Interleukin-2; T-Lymphocyte Subsets; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic; Thymus Gland

PY - 2001

Y1 - 2001

N2 - CD8(+) CD56(+) cells isolated from human peripheral blood lymphocytes have been shown recently to represent a population of cytotoxic active T cells. However, it is not known if these cells are intrathymically or extrathymically developed or how these cells are influenced by growth factors. In the present study, we investigated the effects of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IL-15 on human thymocytes with respect to development of CD8(+) CD56(+) T cells. Freshly isolated thymocytes contain few CD8(+) CD56(+) cells, but the number of these cells increases significantly when thymocytes are grown in the presence of IL-15 or IL-2. However, IL-15 induced a significantly higher fraction of CD8(+) CD56(+) cells compared with IL-2. Thus, although IL-2 and IL-15 are known to have a number of redundant functions, we here demonstrate that IL-15 is superior to IL-2 in inducing CD8(+) CD56(+) T cells from cultures of thymocytes. The majority of the IL-15-grown CD8(+) CD56(+) cells were CD45R0(+), representing a memory phenotype, and showed high expression of the IL-15R-complex and high numbers of CD69(+) cells. Moreover, cytotoxic activity was confined to this cell population.

AB - CD8(+) CD56(+) cells isolated from human peripheral blood lymphocytes have been shown recently to represent a population of cytotoxic active T cells. However, it is not known if these cells are intrathymically or extrathymically developed or how these cells are influenced by growth factors. In the present study, we investigated the effects of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IL-15 on human thymocytes with respect to development of CD8(+) CD56(+) T cells. Freshly isolated thymocytes contain few CD8(+) CD56(+) cells, but the number of these cells increases significantly when thymocytes are grown in the presence of IL-15 or IL-2. However, IL-15 induced a significantly higher fraction of CD8(+) CD56(+) cells compared with IL-2. Thus, although IL-2 and IL-15 are known to have a number of redundant functions, we here demonstrate that IL-15 is superior to IL-2 in inducing CD8(+) CD56(+) T cells from cultures of thymocytes. The majority of the IL-15-grown CD8(+) CD56(+) cells were CD45R0(+), representing a memory phenotype, and showed high expression of the IL-15R-complex and high numbers of CD69(+) cells. Moreover, cytotoxic activity was confined to this cell population.

U2 - 10.1089/107999001753289514

DO - 10.1089/107999001753289514

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 11747622

VL - 21

SP - 905

EP - 911

JO - Journal of Interferon and Cytokine Research

JF - Journal of Interferon and Cytokine Research

SN - 1079-9907

IS - 11

ER -