Modulation of interleukin 2 receptor expression on normal human lymphocytes by thymic hormones.
The expression of interleukin 2 receptors (IL-2R) is a critical step leading to normal lymphocyte proliferation. Since thymosin fraction 5 (TF5), a thymic hormone preparation, enhances lymphoproliferative responses of human cells, we examined the effects of TF5 on the expression of IL-2R on mitogen-stimulated human lymphocytes. TF5 significantly increased the percentage and antigen density of cells expressing IL-2R after stimulation with an optimal concentration of phytohemagglutinin (PHA) when the cells from the same donor exhibited suboptimal responses to PHA alone. The same effect was observed with a suboptimal PHA concentration and with OKT3 monoclonal antibody stimulation. Thymosin alpha 1, a synthetic polypeptide originally isolated in its native form from TF5, was also able to increase IL-2R expression in response to PHA, suggesting that it is the active species in TF5. The enhancement of IL-2R expression was paralleled by increased proliferative responses. Increased IL-2R expression appears to be the direct effect of thymic hormones, since abrogation of interleukin 2 production by cyclosporin A did not affect TF5-mediated enhancement of PHA-induced IL-2R expression. These results point to a physiological role of thymic hormones in the maintenance of normal levels of IL-2R expression. This immunoregulatory activity of thymic hormones might be relevant in the treatment of conditions where there is decreased IL-2R expression, such as the acquired immune-deficiency syndrome, or in the restoration of normal IL-2R expression to lymphocytes from aged individuals.
D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis; D007700:Kinetics; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000187:drug effects; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D013947:Thymosin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology
D007376:Interleukin-2; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; C033782:thymosin fraction 5; D013947:Thymosin