Suppression of interleukin 2 biosynthesis by three modes of oxidative cellular stress: Selective prevention by N-acetyl cysteine

Acute stress induced by reagent hydrogen peroxide suppressed interleukin (I L-)2 biosynthesis in a dose-dependent fashion, reaching almost complete abo lishment at 200 mu M. Cells exposed to longitudinal oxidative stress and ir radiation did not exhibit complete suppression of IL-2 biosynthesis, probab ly because intensities high enough to achieve such response would be lethal , These results suggest that suppression of IL-2 biosynthesis is a sensitiv e measure of acute oxidative stress. N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) prevented oxid ative stress-induced suppression of IL-2 biosynthesis, except for that indu ced by acute stress at 100 mu M and above. NAC was very efficient in preven ting longitudinal and irradiation-induced stresses. Therefore, NAC appears to be a promising candidate for providing defence to individuals exposed to environmental conditions in which reactive oxygen intermediates are genera ted. (C) 2000 Academic Press.