In utero treatment with monoclonal antibody to IL-2 receptor beta-chain completely abrogates development of Thy-1+ dendritic epidermal cells.
Interleukin-2 (IL-2), a crucial growth factor for mature T lymphocytes, is produced in fetal thymus under developmental control, although its biological significance remains unclear. We found that the two distinct subunits of the IL-2 receptor, i.e. the alpha-chain (IL-2R alpha) and the beta-chain (IL-2R beta), were expressed in an almost mutually exclusive fashion throughout fetal thymus ontogeny, and that the blockade of IL-2R beta, a signal transducing component of IL-2R, by administering a neutralizing mAb to IL-2R beta resulted in the complete and selective disappearance of Thy-1+ skin dendritic epidermal cells. Development of any other T cell subsets was uncompromised. This indicates that IL-2 plays a crucial role in the development of fetal V gamma 5+ cells and their descendants.
Department of Immunology, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Japan.
T
T
Tanaka
Y
Y
Takeuchi
T
T
Shiohara
F
F
Kitamura
Y
Y
Nagasaka
K
K
Hamamura
H
H
Yagita
M
M
Miyasaka
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011247:Pregnancy; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000276:immunology; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D018800:Thy-1 Antigens
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D018800:Thy-1 Antigens