Enhancement of interleukin-2 release in rats by treatment with bleomycin and Adriamycin in vivo
- Resource Type
- Article
- Authors
- Hamied, Tarek A. Abdul; Turk, John L.
- Source
- Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy; November 1987, Vol. 25 Issue: 3 p245-249, 5p
- Subject
- Language
- ISSN
- 03407004; 14320851
Spleen cells from rats previously injected with bleomycin (10 mg/kg) or Adriamycin (1 mg/kg) were able to release higher levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2) than cells from untreated animals. The difference in IL-2 release was detected after the cells were exposed to a suboptimal dose of concanavalin A (0.5 µg/ml) for 24 h. By cytofluorimetry, these drugs did not change the proportion of W3/25+ (helper) or OX-8+ (suppressor) T-cell subsets. In contrast, the immunosuppressive drug cyclophosphamide inhibited the IL-2 release from spleen cells under the same conditions. It is suggested that some anti-cancer antibiotics may be able to enhance the release of IL-2 while other cytotoxic drugs with more immunosuppressive potential could inhibit the release of this mediator.