Differential expression of the interleukin 2 receptor beta (p75) chain on human peripheral blood natural killer subsets.
The interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) is composed of at least two subunits, the IL-2R alpha (P55, CD25/Tac) and IL-2R beta (p70-75) chains. In the present study we have identified the quantitative expression of IL-2R beta on subsets of NK cells in peripheral blood using flow cytometry and a recently established mAb against IL-2R beta (TU27). We demonstrate that NK cells are not a homogeneous population but that phenotypic subsets exist, and that the levels of IL-2R beta expression correlate with these subsets. The levels of IL-2R beta expression on NK subsets are CD3- CD16- CD56bright NK cells (immature NK) greater than CD16+CD4- NK cells (mature NK) greater than CD16+CD57+ NK cells (more mature NK) in adult peripheral blood lymphocytes. The level of IL-2R beta expression on CD16+ NK cells in cord blood is significantly higher than that in adult PBL. These findings suggest that there may be a inverse relationship between IL-2R beta expression and the differentiation of NK cells. IL-2R beta, preferentially expressed on the NK cells, may play an important role in differentiation and maturation of NK cells.
Nishikawa
K
K
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Nara Medical University, Japan.
Saito
S
S
Morii
T
T
Kato
Y
Y
Narita
N
N
Ichijo
M
M
Ohashi
Y
Y
Takeshita
T
T
Sugamura
K
K
D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D017252:CD3 Complex; D019002:CD56 Antigen; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D011961:Receptors, Fc; D017452:Receptors, IgG; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D017252:CD3 Complex; D019002:CD56 Antigen; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D011961:Receptors, Fc; D017452:Receptors, IgG; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2