Effect of oxygen radicals on the IL-1 production by monocytes and IL-2 receptor expression in lymphocytes during primary and secondary immunodeficiency

Summary

Monocytes and lymphocytes of patients with agammaglobulinemia and ophtalmoherpes accompanied with immunodeficiency syndrom have been studied in the in vitro experiments. The effects of oxygen radicals on the producion and reception of IL-1 were evaluated by the addition of antioxidant enzymes, SOD and catalase, and the bioflavonoid rutin, a free radical scavenger and an iron chelator in culture medium. It was found that primary and secondary immunodeficiency were characterized by a decrease in IL-1 production by monocytes stimulated with latex particles and by the reduction of the amount of IL-1 receptors on the surface of T-lymphocytes. SOD, catalase, and rutin normalized these parameters as well as the inhibited lucigenin-amplified CL of stimulated monocytes. Thus, superoxide ion is apparently able to suppress cytokine production by monocytes and to modulate the sensitivity of lymphocytes to cytokines.