Malignant B-cells have receptors for and respond to interleukin-2.
Interleukin-2 (IL-2) for a long time has been considered as a T-cell specific growth factor which acts through distinct surface receptors present on activated, but not on resting, T-lymphocytes. Recently it has been shown that activated murine and human B-cells also express IL-2 receptors and respond to IL-2 with an increase of DNA synthesis. Some human B-cell malignancies have been reported to react with anti-IL-2 receptor antibodies, but no response to IL-2 has been documented in these cases. Here, in five of 11 B-cell leukemia/lymphoma cases, we identified cells which not only express the IL-2 receptor, but also respond to IL-2 stimulation, as shown by a marked increase of 3H-thymidine incorporation and by differentiation of lymphoma cells. The IL-2-induced 3H-thymidine uptake was completely blocked by a monoclonal antibody to IL-2 receptor, which indicates that IL-2 acted directly through functional IL-2 receptors.
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002455:Cell Division; D004261:DNA Replication / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007938:Leukemia / Q000097:blood; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000097:blood; D010641:Phenotype; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000378:metabolism*; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2