R. Or et al., EFFECT OF INTERLEUKIN-2 AND INTERLEUKIN-4 ON LYMPHOCYTES FROM PERIBRONCHIAL LYMPHATIC TISSUE, Experimental lung research, 22(2), 1996, pp. 245-253
Lymphocyte activation in spleen and peribronchial lymphatic tissue (PB
LT) following stimulation with T-cell mitogens and lymphokines was inv
estigated in the hamster. Optimal nitrogen-induced cell proliferation
was achieved after culturing for 6 days in vitro. Interleukin-2 (IL-2)
and interleukin-4 (IL-4) did not induce DNA synthesis in resting T-ce
lls from either spleen or PBLT. IL-2 or IL-4 in combination with conca
navalin A promoted splenic T-cell proliferation. In contrast, in PBTL,
IL-2-but not IL-4-enhanced cell proliferation (p < .001). The finding
s indicate that PBLT represents an independent compartment of the immu
ne system. Furthermore, in the hamster PBLT cells consist predominantl
y of IL-2-responsive cells, i.e., are of the Th1 type. Immunological p
athogenesis of lung injury can therefore be studied by functional anal
ysis of PBTL lymphocytes.