IN-VITRO INTERLEUKIN-1 AND INTERLEUKIN-2 PRODUCTION AND INTERLEUKIN-2RECEPTOR EXPRESSION IN THE RHESUS-MONKEY

Anti-human monoclonal antibodies were used to detect and quantify inte rleukins-1 and 2 and interleukin-2 receptor expression in peripheral b lood mononuclear cells from a rhesus monkey. Interleukin-1 production could be induced by phorbol esters (PMA) and was potentiated by phytoh emagglutinin (PHA). Interleukin-2 secretion could also be induced by t he combination of PHA and PMA, but only weakly with PHA alone. Interle ukin-2 receptor expression was present in a subpopulation of unstimula ted lymphocytes and could be enhanced by PHA or PMA. These data show o nce again that the rhesus monkey immune system is cross-reactive with the human one and that rhesus macaque could be a good model to study i nterleukin therapy.