title: Characterization of IL-2 receptor expression and function on murine macrophages.
abstract: This study was designed to examine the expression and function of IL-2R on murine macrophages. We used a model system of murine macrophage cell lines (ANA-1 and GG2EE) that was established by infecting normal murine bone marrow-derived cells with the J2 (v-raf/v-myc) recombinant murine retrovirus. ANA-1 macrophages did not constitutively express detectable levels of mRNA for the p55, IL-2R alpha. However, a brief exposure to IFN-gamma was sufficient to induce IL-2R alpha mRNA in ANA-1 macrophages. Flow cytometric analysis indicated that ANA-1 macrophages expressed low constitutive levels of IL-2R alpha on their cell surface that were augmented after treatment of the cells with IFN-gamma. Affinity binding and cross-linking of [125I]IL-2 to ANA-1 macrophages demonstrated that IL-2R alpha and the p70-75, IL-2R beta were both present on ANA-1 macrophages constitutively. IFN-gamma increased the expression of IL-2R alpha on ANA-1 macrophages but did not increase the expression of IL-2R beta on these macrophages. Although IL-2 alone did not induce the tumoricidal activity of ANA-1 macrophages, IL-2 acted synergistically with IFN-gamma to induce macrophage tumoricidal activity. These data demonstrate the expression of IL-2R on murine macrophage cell lines and establish the role of IL-2 as a costimulator of macrophage-mediated tumoricidal activity.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Immunoregulation, National Cancer Institute-Frederick Cancer Research and Development Center, National Institutes of Health, MD 21702-1201.
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Mathieson
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Giardina
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Varesio
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002460:Cell Line; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000276:immunology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D007371:Interferon-gamma