Interleukin-2 production after blood transfusions in prospective kidney transplant recipients.

We have investigated whether suppression of the allogeneic response after blood transfusion (BT) could be due to inhibition of the production or activity of Interleukin-2 (IL-2), a soluble mediator involved in T lymphocyte proliferation. Reduction of IL-2 production after BT was less frequent than, but significantly associated with, non specific MLR suppression. However, MLR suppressor cells did not inhibit the release of IL-2 from autologous pre-BT lymphocytes. In addition, post-BT soluble suppressor factors of the MLR did not affect the ability of IL-2 to promote cell proliferation. Thus, although MLR suppression after BT is associated with reduced IL-2 production, this is not a major mechanism involved in this effect.