Interleukin 2 induces gamma-interferon production: participation of macrophages and NK-like cells.

Interleukin 2 (IL 2) has been shown to be a potent stimulator of natural killer (NK) cells. In the present studies, partially purified mouse and human IL 2 preparations were also found to induce interferon (IFN) from mouse spleen cells. By the criteria of sensitivity to treatment at pH 2 and failure to be neutralized by a potent anti-alpha, beta IFN serum, the species of IFN produced was of type gamma. Cooperation between two types of cell, a macrophage and an NK-like cell, was required for IFN production by murine spleen cells treated with IL 2. The requirement for macrophages could be replaced with supernatant obtained by incubating macrophages for 24 hr with lymphokine preparations containing IL 2. Interestingly, mature T cells apparently played no role in the process. Furthermore, the beige (bg/bg) mutation, which severely impairs NK cell lytic activity, had no effect on the ability of NK-like cells to participate in IFN production. Cell fractionation experiments revealed no dissociation between the requirements for augmentation of NK cytotoxic activity and for IFN production, and it is concluded that at least a portion of the NK boosting induced by IL 2-containing preparations is mediated through gamma-IFN.