Improved culture conditions for quantitative evaluation of interleukin 2 production by frozen human lymphocytes.
Several culture parameters were studied in order to establish methods for optimal and reproducible production of interleukin 2 (IL2) by thawed lymphocytes. Standard conditions, considered optimal for production by freshly separated lymphocytes (culture medium RPMI 1640 + 1% normal human serum + 10 micrograms/ml PHA), gave low and poorly reproducible results. An increased concentration of human serum (10 and 20%) in the medium improved production but best results were obtained by adding polyethylene glycol (PEG 6000, 0.1 mg/ml) to the culture medium. Furthermore, with the addition of PEG 6000, results became highly reproducible, thus permitting valid comparison of in vitro IL2 production by lymphocytes from normal donors and patients.