Abstract
IL-2 production by PHA-stimulated human lymphocytes in umbilical blood was studied ontogenetically. Lymphocytes from the 16-week-old fetus produced appreciable amounts of interleukin-2 (IL-2). In 16- to 36-week-old fetuses the IL-2 production rate was found to be significantly higher than that in adults. When signal transduction, which is mediated by high affinity IL-2 receptors (IL-2R), was studied after adding exogenous IL-2 to PHA-blast lymphocytes, the response of the 24-week-old fetus was similar to that of adults. These results indicate that the attainment of IL-2 production and the function of IL-2 receptors are completed at a relatively early stage of fetal development.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 247-255 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Journal of Reproductive Immunology |
| Volume | 14 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 1988/12 |
Keywords
- IL-2 signal transduction
- T cell subset
- interleukin 2
- premature infants
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology and Allergy
- Immunology
- Reproductive Medicine
- Obstetrics and Gynecology