title: Differential regulation of lymphokine production by distinct subunits of the T cell interleukin 2 receptor.
abstract: Most biologic responses to IL-2 have been attributed to interaction of IL-2 with a high affinity receptor which consists of a heterodimer composed of two distinct IL-2-binding proteins (IL-2R alpha/IL-2R beta). However, both low affinity IL-2R alpha (55 kD) and intermediate affinity IL-2R beta (70-75 kD) also appear to be expressed independently on the cell surface. We investigated the receptor-specific regulatory effects of IL-2 on cytokine production in unstimulated and activated T cells. T cells were activated by stimulation of the antigen receptor complex with anti-CD3 mAb. IL-2 (10(2) U/ml, 1 nM) stimulation of resting cells resulted in a fivefold increase in GM-CSF release but in only minimal IFN-gamma release. IL-2 markedly augmented mRNA expression of GM-CSF but not IFN-gamma in unstimulated T cells. IL-2R beta mAb but not IL-2R alpha mAb decreased IL-2-induced GM-CSF release and mRNA expression from unstimulated T cells. IL-2 concentrations required for GM-CSF release from resting cells suggested ligand binding to an intermediate affinity receptor. GM-CSF and IFN-gamma release from activated T cells increased four- to fivefold in response to 1 nM IL-2 and IL-2 augmented both GM-CSF and IFN-gamma mRNA. IL-2R beta mAb but not IL-2R alpha mAb reduced GM-CSF release and mRNA expression in activated T cells stimulated with 1 nM IL-2. IL-2R alpha blockade markedly decreased IL-2-induced IFN-gamma release and mRNA expression from activated cells, while IL-2R beta blockade had little effect on IFN-gamma production in activated cells. IL-2R alpha blockade altered the affinity of the receptor mediating activated cell GM-CSF release from a high affinity to an intermediate affinity state. These studies indicate an independent role for IL-2R beta in mediating GM-CSF production from T cells. They also suggest that unstimulated and activated T cells, which express distinct IL-2 receptor moieties, mediate release of separate lymphokines and that different subunits of the IL-2 receptor may play an important role in the regulation of cytokine production.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Heinrich Heine University Medical Center, Dusseldorf, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Burdach
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zessack
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dilloo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shatsky
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Levitt
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000502:physiology; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000502:physiology; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D017252:CD3 Complex; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000502:physiology; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000502:physiology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015703:Antigens, CD; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D017252:CD3 Complex; D007376:Interleukin-2; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor