title: Selective inhibition of interleukin 2 gene function following thymocyte antigen/major histocompatibility complex receptor crosslinking: possible thymic selection mechanism.
abstract: Considerable evidence now exists to support the notion that the 50-kDa sheep erythrocyte binding protein, T11, represents an essential cell surface component of a human T-cell-lineage activation pathway. Furthermore, it is known that the human T-cell antigen-major histocompatibility complex (MHC) receptor complex T3-Ti is capable of regulating cell growth mediated by the T11 structure. Here we show that, within the T3+ thymocyte compartment, T3-Ti crosslinking rapidly inhibits T11-initiated interleukin 2 (IL-2) gene transcription and translation. This inhibition is restricted to the IL-2 gene (IL2) as transcription of both the IL-2 receptor gene (IL2R) and the Ti beta-chain gene (TCRB) are not affected (human gene designations are in parentheses). Perhaps more importantly, T3-Ti-mediated IL-2 inhibition of this type is not operational in peripheral T lymphocytes. The results imply that the majority of T3+ thymocytes are functionally distinct from peripheral T lymphocytes despite their T3+ phenotype and may possess a unique endogenous regulatory component for suppressing IL-2 gene activity. Moreover, since IL-2 is likely rate-limiting for growth within the thymus, the findings provide one plausible mechanism for thymic selection--namely, T3-Ti crosslinking of thymocytes upon interaction with self-major histocompatibility complex inhibits clonal expansion of high-affinity autoreactive cells.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunobiology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ramarli
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Reinherz
mesh_terms: D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000502:physiology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000502:physiology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D018127:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7
chemical_list: D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D018127:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7