Open AccessCytokine production in varicella zoster virus‐stimulated limiting dilution lymphocyte cultures
Author(s) -
ZHANG Y.,
COSYNS M.,
LEVIN M. J.,
HAYWARD A. R.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
clinical & experimental immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.329
H-Index - 135
eISSN - 1365-2249
pISSN - 0009-9104
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2249.1994.tb06618.x
Subject(s) - immunology , cytokine , varicella zoster virus , virology , virus , t lymphocyte , lymphocyte , biology , limiting , medicine , immune system , mechanical engineering , engineering
SUMMARY Human blood lymphocytes were stimulated with varicella zoster virus (VZV) antigen in limiting dilution cultures and the amounts of interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ) and IL‐4 measured in the supernatants. The results indicate that up to 85% of proliferating cells of young adults produce IFN‐γ and up to 10% make IL‐4. At limiting dilution, few if any wells were positive for both IFN‐γ and IL‐4. The amount of IFN‐γ per well increased in the presence of antibody to IL‐4, but anti‐IFN‐γ did not increase IL‐4 production. The frequency of wells containing IFN‐γ was lower in subjects < 19 or > 55 years of age, and the amounts of IFN‐γ in positive wells was significantly lower in cultures of the older subjects' lymphocytes. The frequency of IL‐4‐making cells did not fall significantly with age. The data suggest that the age‐related decline in the frequency of blood T cells which responds to VZV affects mainly the cells with a Th1‐like cytokine phenotype.