Open AccessImpaired interleukin‐2 production by t‐lymphocytes in polycythemia vera
Author(s) -
Paul Cassandra C.,
Baumann Michael A.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
journal of clinical laboratory analysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.536
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1098-2825
pISSN - 0887-8013
DOI - 10.1002/jcla.1860030204
Subject(s) - peripheral blood mononuclear cell , immunology , interleukin 2 , immune system , stimulation , biology , cytokine , t cell , lymphocyte , interleukin 4 , endocrinology , in vitro , biochemistry
T‐lymphocyte function was investigated in a group of eight patients with polycythemia vela (PV) and 13 normals. Responsiveness of T‐cells to stimulation by mitogen was significantly impaired in the PV patients (p = .02). Analysis of immune cell subpopulation composition by assessment of cell surface phenotype did not reveal imbalances that could account for impaired T‐cell proliferative ability in PV patients. Addition of recombinant human interleukin‐1 to PV mononuclear cell cultures did not enhance proliferative ability. Addition of recombinant human interleu‐kin‐2 to cultures had no effect on maximum mitogen stimulation in normals but significantly improved responses in PV patients (p < .02), correcting them to normal levels. Measurement of interleukin‐2 production by stimulated cultured mononuclear cells confirmed subnormal IL‐2 production by PV T‐cells (p < .00005). Impaired IL‐2 production could conceivably contribute to the pathogenesis of PV by limiting the ability of IL‐2‐dependent cells to regulate hematopoiesis.