A new IFN-like cytokine, limitin modulates the immune response without influencing thymocyte development
- Author(s)
- Takahashi, I; Kosaka, H; Oritani, K; Heath, WR; Ishikawa, J; Okajima, Y; Ogawa, M; Kawamoto, S; Yamada, M; Azukizawa, H; Itami, S; Yoshikawa, K; Tomiyama, Y; Matsuzawa, Y;
- Details
- Publication Year 2001-09-15,Volume 167,Issue #6,Page 3156-3163
- Journal Title
- JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY
- Publication Type
- Journal Article
- Abstract
- A novel IFN-like molecule, limitin, was recently identified and revealed to suppress B lymphopoiesis through the IFN-alpha beta receptor, although it lacked growth suppression on myeloid and erythroid progenitors. Here we have studied diverse effects of limitin on T lymphocytes and compared limitin with previously known IFNs. Like IFN-alpha and -beta, limitin modified immunity in the following responses. It suppressed mitogen- and Ag-induced T cell proliferation through inhibiting the responsiveness to exogenous IL-2 rather than suppressing the production of IL-2. In contrast, limitin enhanced cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity associated with the perforin-granzyme pathway. To evaluate the effect of limitin in vivo, a lethal graft-versus-host disease assay was established. Limitin-treatment of host mice resulted in the enhancement of graft-versus-host disease. Limitin did not influence thymocyte development either in fetal thymus organ cultures or in newborn mice injected with limitin-Ig, suggesting that limitin is distinguishable from IFN-alpha and -beta. From these findings, it can be speculated that the human homolog of limitin may be applicable for clinical usage because of its IFN-like activities with low adverse effects on, for example, T lymphopoiesis, erythropoiesis, and myelopoiesis.
- Publisher
- AMER ASSOC IMMUNOLOGISTS
- Keywords
- 3-DIMENSIONAL CRYSTAL-STRUCTURE; MURINE INTERFERON-BETA; RESTING LYMPHOCYTES-T; I INTERFERON; FAS LIGAND; CELL-LINE; MOLECULAR-CLONING; ALPHA; RECEPTOR; EXPRESSION
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Creation Date: 2001-09-15 12:00:00