Participation of IL-2 and direct cell cytotoxicity in the modulation of GvH reaction in mice infected with Listeria innocua.

Listeria innocua can intensify the development of local GvH reaction in a semiallogeneic system in mice. This phenomenon is observed in (BALB/c x AKR)F1 mice intraperitoneally injected with the live bacteria on the 7th day before the transfer of BALB/c spleen cells. The local GvH reaction develops as strongly as in normal hybrid recipients given the parental cell graft in the presence of exogenous interleukin 2 (IL-2). The development of the reaction is associated with an intensive increase of the direct cytotoxicity of lymph node cells which is also markedly enhanced after the bacteria injection itself. IL-2 seems to play a relevant role in the development of local GvH reaction in L. innocua-injected mice.