title: A qualitative difference in the interleukin 2 (IL-2) requirement of helper and cytotoxic T lymphocytes.
abstract: A qualitative difference in the requirement of mouse helper and cytotoxic T lymphocytes for interleukin 2 (IL-2) was revealed by offering such cells IL-2 synthesized in Xenopus laevis oocytes that had been microinjected with messenger RNA (mRNA) encoding human IL-2. While both helper and cytotoxic mouse T-cell lines proliferate in response to the IL-2 present in medium conditioned by stimulated human lymphocytes, only helper-T-cell lines respond to human IL-2 secreted from oocytes. This result demonstrates a difference between helper and cytotoxic T lymphocytes in their response to IL-2. The growth response of murine cells shows that IL-2 secreted from human cells has properties not found in the IL-2 secreted from oocytes, even though a monoclonal antibody directed against the human IL-2 receptor blocks the activity of both types of IL-2. Quite possibly, this difference results from a post-translational modification.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*; D014982:Xenopus laevis
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2