The role of Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist in Th1/Th2 Functional Differentiation

• Main Authors: Lin, Kai-Wei, 林凱瑋
• Other Authors: Lin,Rong-Hwa
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 1998
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/97054632666852747224

碩士 === 國立臺灣大學 === 免疫學研究所 === 86 === Naive T lymphocytes undergo priming when they first come into contact with foreign antigen, a process referred to as functional differentiation. This phenomenon is now believed to play an important role in the regulation of immune response phenotype on human beings. Therefore, it is important to know how to control the balance between two types of the helper T cells.So far it is known that IL-12 and IL-4 can direct Th1 and Th2 functional differentiation, respectively. Furthermore, Interleukin-1 is known to be able to maintain Th2 cells proliferation in vitro. However, the role of IL-1 in functional differentiation of naive helper T cells is still unknown! In!this study, we first demonstrated that if Na*ve T lymphocytes undergo priming without IL-1 can differentiate and produce high levels of IFN-g but low levels of IL-4 in second restimulation. In addition, we also found this process is depend on APCs but not strickly depend on IL-4. We also use the technique of in vivo gene transfection with cationic liposomes to induce IL-1ra overexpression in the site where specific immune response occured. IL-1ra can also promote antigen-specific IgG2a and IFN-g production in vivo. All of these results suggest that IL-1 can promote Th2-development. Thus, the balance between endogenous IL-1 and IL-1ra in primary immune responses is a key factor in determining the functional deviation of Th cells.