Modulation of the functions of dengue virus-specific human CD8+ cytotoxic T cell clone by IL-2, IL-7 and IFN gamma.

Lymphokines play an important role in immune responses to viruses by modulating functions of T lymphocytes. In the present study, we examined the effects of interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-7 (IL-7), and interferon gamma (IFN gamma) on proliferation, cytotoxic activity and lymphokine production of a dengue virus-specific CD8+ human cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) clone. IL-2 and IL-7 induced proliferation of the CD8+ CTL clone in the presence or absence of specific antigen, while IFN gamma suppressed proliferation of the clone. IL-7 and IFN gamma augmented dengue virus-specific cytotoxic activity without inducing non-specific cytotoxic activity, and IL-2 induced non-specific cytotoxic activity. IL-2 induced IFN gamma production by the CD8+ CTL clone. IL-4 and IL-6 did not modulate the functions of the CD8+ CTL clone in these experimental conditions. These results suggest that functions of dengue virus-specific CD8+ CTL are modulated by IL-2, IL-7 and IFN gamma, and that IL-7 is a lymphokine useful to induce growth and to maintain specific cytotoxic activity of CD8+ CTL clones in vitro.