EFFECTS OF DIRECT-CURRENT ON T-CELL ACTIVITY - MODULATION OF INTERLEUKIN-2 PRODUCTION

The production of interleukin-2 (IL-2) by mitogen-stimulated human per ipheral blood leukocytes (PBL) was significantly enhanced by a short p retreatment of PBL with direct current (DC) at low intensities. Exposu re of PBL to DC of 1 mA for more than 10 min resulted in inhibition of IL-2 production which correlated with decreased proliferation capacit y of the treated cells. DC had similar enhancing and inhibitory effect s on IL-2 production by the mitogen-stimulated human leukemia T cell l ine MOLT-13. However, DC itself did not stimulate IL-2 production in P BL or in MOLT-13 cells. In tare additional T cell lines tested, MOLT-1 6 and H-9, DC did not enhance mitogen-stimulated IL-2 production, but suppressed it when applied at 1 mA for more than 10 min. Both the mito gen-stimulated and the interleukin-1 (IL-1)-enhanced IL-2 production w ere completely inhibited by 1 mA of DC applied for 20 min. The observe d effects of DC mere due to a direct action of DC on the cells and not to possible effects of the secondary by-products of electrolysis. The se results show that pretreatment of cells with DC can enhance or supp ress IL-2 production depending on the intensity of DC and the type of IL-2 producing cell clones.