IL-2 can support growth of CD8+ T cells but not CD4+ T cells of human IL-2 receptor beta-chain transgenic mice.
We have generated transgenic mice expressing the human (h) IL-2R beta-chain on lymphoid cells under the control of the mouse H-2Kd promoter. Spleen cells and thymocytes of the transgenic mice were cultured in the presence of 5 nM hIL-2. After a 10-day culture, the expanded populations were analyzed by flow cytometry and shown to be composed of CD8+ T cells and gamma delta T cells. Surprisingly, CD4+ T cells of the transgenic mice did not proliferate in response to hIL-2, although the CD4+ T cells expressed the transgenic hIL-2R beta-chain as well as the endogenous gamma-chain on their surface and bound 125I-labeled IL-2. When CD4+ T cells of the transgenic mice were stimulated with anti-CD3 mAb, the CD4+ T cells proliferated in response to hIL-2. These findings suggest that CD4+ T cells may require another triggering signal to respond to IL-2 even when IL-2Rs are expressed. By contrast, CD8+ T cells and gamma delta T cells respond to IL-2 as long as IL-2Rs are expressed.
Asano
M
M
Department of Medical Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Kyoto University, Japan.
Ishida
Y
Y
Sabe
H
H
Kondo
M
M
Sugamura
K
K
Honjo
T
T
D000818:Animals; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000276:immunology; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology
D017252:CD3 Complex; D007376:Interleukin-2; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2