Ly-6 A/E antigen of murine T cells is associated with a distinct pathway of activation. Requirements for interferon and exogenous interleukin 2.
The Ly-6 pathway of T cell activation was analyzed to identify its essential requirements. Using a monospecific chicken antiserum to Ly-6E, fully cross-reactive to its allelic counterpart, Ly-6A, but unreactive with other members of the Ly-6 family, we have found that interferon (IFN)-alpha/beta or gamma, Ly-6 antibody and interleukin 2 (IL 2) act synergistically in inducing T cell proliferation. The action of IFN can be attributed to induction of Ly-6A/E antigen on T cells, as described previously, and this induction is transcriptionally controlled. Exposure of T cells with elevated Ly-6 concentrations to chicken anti-Ly-6 antibody leads to expression of IL 2 receptors. Consequently, the addition of IL 2 drives T cell proliferation. Thus, in BALB/c mice the minimum requirements for activation by the Ly-6 pathway are IFN (as a means of inducing Ly-6). Ly-6 antibody (as inducer of IL 2 receptors) and IL 2. In mice of the Ly-6.2 haplotype, IFN is not an absolute requirement. This may be related to the fact that these animals, in contrast to those of Ly-6.1 haplotype, express Ly-6 constitutively on a substantial proportion of resting T cells. Thus, T cells of C57BL/6 or DBA/2 mice can be induced to proliferate with Ly-6 antibody and IL 2 alone, although IFN pretreatment enhances this response. In BALB/c mice the IL 2-driven proliferative response induced through the Ly-6 pathway occurs selectively in the L3T4- population.
Toulon
M
M
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York 10021.
Palfree
R G
RG
Palfree
S
S
Dumont
F J
FJ
Hämmerling
U
U
D000818:Animals; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D000937:Antigen-Antibody Reactions; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000950:Antigens, Ly / Q000276:immunology*; D002645:Chickens; D007106:Immune Sera / Q000494:pharmacology; D007372:Interferons / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D010641:Phenotype; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*
D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000950:Antigens, Ly; D007106:Immune Sera; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D007372:Interferons