R. Brett et al., Up-regulation of natural killer cell cytotoxicity by interleukin-2: The effect of sex and parity, AM J REPROD, 41(5), 1999, pp. 356-359
PROBLEM: Peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) from some, but not all, female
donors showed increased cytotoxicity in response to interleukin (IL)-2.
METHOD OF STUDY: The effect of IL-2 on natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicit
y was compared in nulliparous females, parous females, and males. Periphera
l blood lymphocytes were preincubated for 20 or 72 hr with 5 or 100 U/ml IL
-2 and cytotoxicity against K562 targets was then examined.
RESULTS: In the parous females, only the 72-hr preincubation with 100 U/ml
IL-2 significantly increased NK cell cytotoxicity, whereas nulliparous fema
les also showed significantly increased cytotoxicity after a 20-hr preincub
ation with 100 U/ml IL-2. Neither female subject group had increased activi
ty after preincubation for 20 or 72 hr with 5 U/ml IL-2. However, male peri
pheral blood lymphocytes also showed a significant increase in NK cell cyto
toxicity when preincubated for 72 hr with 5 U/ml IL-2.
CONCLUSIONS: The effect of IL-2 on NK cell cytotoxic activity may be relate
d to sex and the state of parity.