Normal and certain leukaemic B cells express IL-2 receptors without in vitro activation.
IL-2 receptor expression by B cells has previously been considered to be confined to activated normal B cells and, among the B cell leukaemias, to the hairy cells (HC) of hairy-cell leukaemia. In the present paper, using alpha-Tac monoclonal antibodies in a highly sensitive indirect rosette method, we show that both normal and certain leukaemic B cells other than HC express IL-2 receptors. The density of these receptors is low since they were not detectable by indirect immunofluorescence. Various controls excluded non-specific-reagent or exogenous receptor binding and blocking studies with recombinant IL-2 confirmed the presence of the IL-2 receptors. The significance of the findings is discussed and it is suggested that B cell IL-2 receptor expression without in-vitro activation may be a function of B cell maturity.
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology; D007938:Leukemia / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000032:analysis*; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D018127:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D018127:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7