Interleukin-2 receptors in infectious mononucleosis.
The majority of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from acute-phase infectious mononucleosis (IM) patients express high levels of T10 (CD38) and HLA-DR surface antigens, which are markers characteristic of activated T cells. However, Tac antigen (p55) expression on these cells was not detectable by flow cytometric immunofluorescence, and only a low level of specific interleukin-2 (IL-2) binding was found by Scatchard analysis. These results suggest that IL-2 receptors (IL-2R) are lost or down-regulated on activated T cells in acute IM. Since a large proportion of T cells die during the first 24 h of in vitro culture in the absence of exogenous IL-2, the data implicate a physiological role for the observed low levels of IL-2R on T cells.
Schmidt
C
C
Sir Albert Sakzewski Virus Research Laboratory, Royal Children's Hospital, Brisbane, Australia.
Burman
K
K
Moss
D J
DJ
Ryan
J
J
Burrows
S R
SR
Misko
I S
IS
D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007244:Infectious Mononucleosis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
D007376:Interleukin-2; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2