Immune responses in interleukin-2-deficient mice.

Journal article

The role of costimulatory signals in T cell induction was evaluated in mice lacking the interleukin-2 (IL-2) gene. In vitro secondary antiviral T cell responses were absent unless IL-2 was added, confirming the crucial role of IL-2 in vitro. In vivo, primary and secondary cytotoxic T cell responses against vaccinia and lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus were within normal ranges. B cell reactivity to vesicular stomatitis virus was not impaired. T helper cell responses were delayed but biologically functional. Natural killer cell activity was markedly reduced but inducible. These normal in vivo immune responses in IL-2-deficient mice question the importance of IL-2 as defined by in vitro studies.

Authors: Kündig, T; Schorle, H; Bachmann, M; Hengartner, H; Zinkernagel, R

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Science (New York, N.Y.)
• Volume: 262
• Issue: 5136
• Pages: 1059-1061
• Publication date: 1993-11-01
• DOI: 10.1126/science.8235625
• EISSN: 1095-9203
• ISSN: 0036-8075
• Language: English
• Keywords: T-Lymphocytes; Rhabdoviridae Infections; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; Vesicular stomatitis Indiana virus; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic; Neutralization Tests; Animals; B-Lymphocytes; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Virus Diseases; Immunologic Memory; Vaccinia; Immunoglobulin M; Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis; Interleukin-2; Antibodies, Viral; Killer Cells, Natural; Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus; Vaccinia virus