Effect of polyadenylic.polyuridylic acid on the proliferative responsiveness of mouse thymus and spleen cells

ABSTRACT

The effects of polyadenylic.polyuridylic acid [poly(A).poly(U)] on in vitro proliferations of thymus and spleen cells from C57BL/6 mice were investigated. Mice were injected intravenously with 30 micrograms of poly(A).poly(U) or placebo. Two days later, thymus, spleen and peritoneal cells from these mice were prepared and cultured in pooled or non-pooled conditions. Cell proliferations were assessed by the technique of incorporation of tritiated thymidine. It has been revealed that the in vitro proliferations of thymus and spleen cells as well as the productions of interleukin-1 by peritoneal adhering cells and interleukin-2 by spleen cells were significantly enhanced in the cultures of cells from poly(A).poly(U)-treated mice. These enhancing effects were observed only in the cultures of pooled cells from mice whose genetic homogeneity is suspected. Furthermore, thymus cells from poly(A).poly(U)-treated mice acted as strong responder cells but not as stimulators in one way mixed cultures. Thus, the enhanced cellular responsiveness may be mediated by the increased production of cytokines and antigen recognitions of thymus-derived cells following activations via the adjuvant effect of poly(A).poly(U).