Induction of platelet cytotoxic functions by lymphokines: role of interferon-gamma

Abstract

Antigen- or mitogen-stimulated CD4+/CD- lymphocytes produced factors able to induce normal human platelets into cytotoxic effectors toward the young larvae of Schistosoma mansoni. The neutralization by monoclonal anti-IFN-gamma antibody of the induction of the platelet killer effect, the presence of IFN-gamma in the CD4+/CD8- lymphocyte supernatant, and, finally, the direct inducer effect of recombinant IFN-gamma clearly demonstrated that IFN-gamma was one of the factors responsible for the induction of platelet cytotoxic functions.