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Hydrogen peroxide as a potent activator of T lymphocyte functions
Author(s) -
Los Marek,
Dröge Wulf,
Stricker Kirstin,
Baeuerle Patrick A.,
SchulzeOsthoff Klaus
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
european journal of immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.272
H-Index - 201
eISSN - 1521-4141
pISSN - 0014-2980
DOI - 10.1002/eji.1830250127
Subject(s) - hydrogen peroxide , biology , reactive oxygen species , activator (genetics) , interleukin 2 , microbiology and biotechnology , gene expression , lymphocyte , receptor , biochemistry , gene , immunology
Abstract During inflammatory processes infiltrating cells produce large amounts of reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI). Increasing evidence suggests that ROI besides being cytotoxic may act as important mediators influencing various cellular and immunological processes. In this study, we have investigated the effects of hydrogen peroxide on several aspects of lymphocyte activation. In ESb‐L T lymphoma cells, micromolar concentrations of hydrogen peroxide rapidly induced activation of the transcription factor NF‐χB, whereas DNA‐binding activity of the transcription factor AP‐1 was virtually not affected. In addition, hydrogen peroxide induced early gene expression of interleukin‐2 (IL‐2) and the IL‐2 receptor α chain. The stimulation of IL‐2 expression was found to be conferred by a χB‐like cis ‐regulatory region within the IL‐2 gene promoter. In contrast to these activating effects, addition of hydrogen peroxide was largely inhibitory on cell proliferation which is consistent with a general requirement of thiol compounds for lymphocyte proliferation. However, hydrogen peroxide significantly increased T cell proliferation when applied for a short period under reducing conditions. These data indicate that ROI may act as an important competence signal in T lymphocytes inducing early gene expression as well as cell proliferation.