The role of thiols in lymphocyte responses: Effect of 2-mercaptoethanol on interleukin 2 production

Abstract

The effects of 2-ME on the production of IL 2 in mitogen-stimulated mouse splenocyte cultures were examined. Since 2-ME could conceivably affect IL 2 production and utilization equally, resulting in no apparent change in the IL 2 concentration of treated cultures, 12-h cultures were used to minimize any effects of IL 2 utilization on the IL 2 concentrations observed. Utilization of IL 2 in 12 h splenocyte cultures was estimated by means of simulations in which IL 2 from 12 h culture supernates was utilized by CTLL-2 cells comparable in number to the lymphoblasts present in splenocyte cultures. These stimulations indicate that IL 2 utilization is insignificant during the first 12 h of culture under a variety of conditions. Thus, the IL 2 concentration at 12 h reflects predominantly the rate of production. No effect was observed on IL 2 concentrations at 12 h when cultures were treated with 2-ME under conditions in which the 2-ME enhanced cellular activation/proliferation. These results indicate that 2-ME does not enhance proliferation in Con A-stimulated splenocyte cultures by increasing IL 2 production, but by some other mechanism(s).