Induction of lymphokine-activated killer cells from nude mouse spleen cells by interleukin-4.

The induction of lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells from natural killer (NK) lineage cells by interleukin-4 (IL-4) was studied in vitro. Activation of nude mouse spleen cells by IL-4 generated cytotoxic cells, capable of killing NK-sensitive as well as NK-resistant tumor cells. The induction of peak lytic activity was demonstrated after 3 days of culture with IL-4. Surface marker analysis indicated that the majority of precursor cells were aGM1+, Thy1-, and the majority of effector cells were aGM1+, Thy1+, suggesting that IL-4 induced LAK cells from nude mouse spleen cells were similar to those from normal mouse spleen cells. The induction of nude mouse LAK cells by IL-4 was partially inhibited by anti-IL-4 or anti-interferon (IFN)-alpha,beta antibody, and it was further inhibited by the combination of two antibodies, suggesting that IFN-alpha,beta production was associated with LAK induction of NK lineage cells by IL-4.