PERIPHERAL T-CELL LYMPHOMAS - IMMUNOREGULATORY CYTOKINE (INTERLEUKIN-2, INTERLEUKIN-4, AND INTERFERON-GAMMA) ABNORMALITIES AND AUTOLOGOUS MIXED LYMPHOCYTE-REACTION

Background. Cytokines are the most important secretions of the immune system and have a wide range of immunoregulatory functions in various immune disorders and T-cell malignancy. The authors have determined th at characteristic enhanced autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction (AMLR) of the lymph node-derived malignant T-cells from peripheral T-cell ly mphomas is a function of the T-cell derived cytokines interleukin (IL) -2, IL-4, and interferon-gamma (IFN-tau). Methods. Autologous mixed ly mphocyte reaction assay was performed by the standard proliferative re sponse (H-3-thymidine incorporation), by culturing autologous lymph no de-derived or blood-purified T-cells with autologous blood-purified mi tomycin-c treated non-T-cells. The production of IL-2, IL-4, and IFN-t au in the AMLR cultures was determined by bioassay or enzyme immunoass ays. Results. Enhanced IL-2 and IFN-tau but deficient IL-4 production is the most characteristic and unique feature of the augmented AMLR in peripheral T-cell lymphomas. Conclusion. The immunoregulatory aberrat ions in lymph node-derived malignant T-cells that produce highly eleva ted IL-2 and IFN-tau but decreased IL-4 during augmented AMLR may play an important role in immune dysfunction in this neoplasm (peripheral T-cell lymphomas).