RLL-1-ALPHA ENHANCES ADOPTIVE TRANSFER OF RESISTANCE TO LISTERIA-MONOCYTOGENES INFECTION

We have previously demonstrated that administration of recombinant rIL-1α enhances resistance against Listeria monocytogenes infection in mice. In this study we considered the possibility that this cytokine might also augment adoptive immunity conferred by the transfer of listeria-immune spleen cells. Concomitant administration of rIL-1α with large numbers (2 × 107 or 108) of listeria-immune spleen cells reduced the protection mediated by the transferred cells. Conversely, rIL-1α co-administered with suboptimal numbers (1 - 5 × 106) of immune splenocytes augmented anti-listeria resistance in an additive fashion. Although transfer of 106 listeria-immune spleen cells alone did not result in significant protection, when 106 immune cells were incubated with rIL-1α prior to transfer they conferred significant protection to naive recipients. Time course experiments indicated that the greatest protection was achieved when listeria-immune spleen cells were pretreated with rIL-1α for 2 h prior to adoptive transfer. The protection transferred by 106 rIL-1α-pretreated immune spleen cells was not inhibited by TGFβ. This study is the first to use riL-1α to potentiate the adoptive transfer of resistance to an infectious agent by immune cells. © 1991.