Dendritic cells and interleukin-2: cytochemical and ultrastructural study M. Civallero1, S. Barni1, R. Nano1 and E. Capelli2 1Department of Animal Biology, University of Pavia and Centre of Study for Histochemistry, CNR and 2Department of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy Offprint requests to: Rosanna Nano, Professore Associato, Department of Animal Biology, University of Pavia, Piazza Botta 10, 27100 Pavia, Italy. Fax: +39 0382 506406. e-mail: nano@ipv36.unipv.it
Summary. The
aim of the present study was to verify the effect of IL-2 on dendritic
cell (DC) differentiation. Various cytokines have been indicated
as factors inducing DC differentiation, but no data about the
interleukin-2 (IL-2) effect on DC differentiation have been reported.
Monocytes isolated from peripheral blood were treated in vitro
with the following factors: IL-2, IL-4, GM-CSF and G-CSF alone
or in combination. Morphological (also ultrastructural) and cytochemical
observations were carried out starting from 3 to 21 days of treatment.
The results indicate that the differentiation of cells showing
dendritic pattern is related to the presence of IL-2. Moreover
a synergic effect of IL-2 and GM-CSF was observed. The enzymatic
features changed with the culture time: before the differentiation
into DC, the stimulated cells expressed the typical pattern of
monocytes. On the contrary, at advanced stage of differentiation,
some enzyme activities changed and in terminally differentiated
dendritic cells the reactions for peroxidase and serine esterase
were negative. Key words: Blood
monocyte, Dendritic cell, Ultrastructure, Cytochemistry |