Interleukin 2 enhances cytotoxic cell function in vitro after T-cell depleted marrow transplantation

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Abstract
After T‐cell depleted marrow transplantation, there is a rapid recovery of cytotoxic effector cells, with activity against targets not susceptible to killing by ‘resting’natural killer cells. These targets include Epstein‐Barr virus transformed B cells and leukaemic cell lines. Activated killer cell function declines by 3 months after transplantation. We find that when CD3 negative effector cells are obtained from these patients and cultured in vitro with interleukin 2 there is a further enhancement of cytotoxic activity against a range of target cells in the early post‐transplant period. and a restoration of high level cytotoxic activity to effector cells obtained 3 months or more after the procedure. These results may have relevance to attempts to reduce the incidence of leukaemic relapse, and EBV + ve lymphoma outgrowth after T‐cell depleted BMT.

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