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The role of costimulatory signals in T cell induction was evaluated in mice lacking the interleukin-2 (IL-2) gene. In vitro secondary antiviral T cell responses were absent unless IL-2 was added, confirming the crucial role of IL-2 in vitro. In vivo, primary and secondary cytotoxic T cell responses against vaccinia and lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus were within normal ranges. B cell reactivity to vesicular stomatitis virus was not impaired. T helper cell responses were delayed but biologically functional. Natural killer cell activity was markedly reduced but inducible. These normal in vivo immune responses in IL-2-deficient mice question the importance of IL-2 as defined by in vitro studies.

Type

Journal article

Journal

Science

Publication Date

12/11/1993

Volume

262

Pages

1059 - 1061

Keywords

Animals, Antibodies, Viral, B-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxicity, Immunologic, Immunoglobulin M, Immunologic Memory, Interleukin-2, Killer Cells, Natural, Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis, Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, Mice, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Neutralization Tests, Rhabdoviridae Infections, T-Lymphocytes, T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic, Vaccinia, Vaccinia virus, Vesicular stomatitis Indiana virus, Virus Diseases