A different response pattern to interleukin-2 in regional lymph node lymphocytes and peripheral blood lymphocytes in patients with lung cancer

• Published in: Annals of Cancer Research and Therapy 1998/12/31, Vol.7(2), pp.77-82
• Main Authors: Takenoyama, Mitsuhiro, Yasumoto, Kosei, Hanagiri, Takeshi, Yoshimatsu, Takashi, Hirashima, Chikashi, Imoto, Hideyuki, Sugimachi, Keizo, Nomoto, Kikuo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: IL-2; lung cancer; proliferation; regional lymph node lymphocytes
• ISSN: 1344-6835; 1880-5469
• DOI: 10.4993/acrt1992.7.77

For the purpose of analyzing the functions of regional lymph node lymphocytes (RLNL) in human lung cancer, we compared the response of RLNL to interleukin-2 (IL-2) with that of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL). With [3H]-thymidine incorporation, the entire RLNL population, including nonadherent RLNL and their E-rosette+ population, showed much stronger responses to IL-2, especially at low concentrations, than did PBL. After RLNL were cultured with IL-2 for 6 days, both IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) α and β chains on CD4+ cells and CD8+ cells were analyzed and compared to those of PBL by using a flow cytometer. Compared to PBL, the expression of the IL-2R α chain on the CD4+ cells of RLNL was more highly enhanced by the addition of IL-2. These data suggest that even in low concentrations RLNL show a higher response to IL-2. These findings might shed new light on immunotherapy using RLNL in lung cancer patients.