RESUMO
Immunomodulating substances may be useful as host-modifying adjuvants in patients receiving immunosuppressive therapies or as probes for studying the immune system. Detection of interleukin-2 (IL-2) is possible via a microassay, enabling investigation of the effects of immunomodulating agents on T cell production of and response to IL-2 in vitro. Four such agents were examined: lithium chloride, Bestatin, Azimexon, and muramyl dipeptide (MDP). All four agents increased the response of cultured T cells to IL-2 over control populations supplied with IL-2 alone. Lithium chloride, Bestatin, and MDP enhanced the production of IL-2 in standard mixed lymphocyte cultures over control cultures receiving media alone. These results suggest that several immunomodulators may produce their effects by the modulation of IL-2 or other lymphokines. Additionally, microassay systems may prove useful as probes to elucidate the function of putative immunoregulatory substances.
