We studied the role of IL-2, IL-15, IL-10, TNF and IL-2 receptor complexes (IL-2R) produced constitutively by a T-cell lymphoma line (LBC) on their own proliferation. The constitutive expression of surface α, β and γ chains IL-2R was detected in tumor cells by flow cytometry. Using reverse-transcription PCR, mRNA for IL-2, IL-15, IL-10 and TNF were found to be present in LBC. In addition, tumor cells were found to constitutively express intracellular IL-2, IL-15, IL-10 and TNF. Despite the production of these cytokines by tumor cells, specific neutralising antibodies did not inhibit LBC proliferation; surprisingly, anti-IL-15 increased LBC cell growth. We also demonstrated that recombinant IL-2 or IL-15 enhanced LBC cell proliferation. Our data suggest that endogenous IL-2 and IL-15 may trigger the proliferation of lymphoma LBC cells, and so their growth could be regulated, at least partly, by IL-2/IL-15/IL-2R system. In addition, IL-10 and TNF, immunosuppressor and pro-metastatic cytokines, respectively, may promote the in vivo growth of the tumor. The fact that leukaemia-lymphoma cells produce simultaneously both IL-2 and IL-15 should be taken into consideration in the design of immunotherapy protocols directed to IL-2R.

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