Importance of IL-2 receptors in intra-thymic generation of cells expressing T-cell receptors.
During development, lymphoid stem cells migrate into the thymic rudiment where they proliferate, rearrange their antigen receptor genes and become differentiated into functionally mature T cells. At present, the regulation of these processes is poorly understood, although recent studies have shown that early fetal and adult immature thymocytes express receptors for the T-cell growth factor, interleukin-2 (IL-2). We now present direct evidence that IL-2 receptors have a function in intra-thymic development by demonstrating that proliferation and the generation of cells expressing the T-cell antigen receptor (alpha beta TCR), which is responsible for the recognition of antigens in the context of MHC, are inhibited when antibodies to IL-2 receptors are added to fetal thymus organ cultures. The inhibition is specific in that it does not affect pre-thymic stem cells and can be partially reversed by addition of exogenous recombinant IL-2.
D000818:Animals; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology*; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000276:immunology*; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000276:immunology*
D007376:Interleukin-2; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2