DIRECT CORRELATION BETWEEN IL-2-R GENE-TRANSCRIPTION AND NATURAL CELL-MEDIATED CYTOTOXICITY IN PATIENTS WITH GASTRIC-CARCINOMA

The relationship between IL-2-R gene transcription and natural cell me diated cytotoxicity (NKCMC) in the peripheral blood lymphocytes of 15 patients with gastric carcinoma and 6 normal healthy controls were stu died. NKCMC and ADCC assessed against radiolabelled K-562 and sensitiz ed chicken RBC as respective target cells in Cr-51 release assay revea led significant reduction in patients as compared to controls. The imp airment in the natural cytotoxicity was associated with decreased IL-2 -R gene expression at the mRNA level in these patients. Expression of both IL-2 R alpha transcripts (3.5 and 1.5 Kb) were either not detecta ble or only weakly detectable on T lymphocytes from patients even afte r mitogenic stimulation. In contrast, a significant rise in the expres sion of both IL-2 R alpha transcripts was observed on T cells from nor mal controls followed by mitogenic challenge. We interpret our finding s to reflect the direct correlation between NKCMC and IL-2-R gene tran scription in gastric carcinoma patients.