title: Regulation by interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon gamma of IL-2 receptor gamma chain gene expression in human monocytes.
abstract: The interleukin-2 receptor gamma chain (IL-2R gamma) gene codes for a subunit of the IL-2R and is expressed in human lymphoid cells. The present study was undertaken to determine whether human monocytes expressed the IL-2R gamma gene constitutively or after activation by IL-2 or interferon gamma (IFN gamma). Fresh human monocytes constitutively expressed low but significant levels of IL-2R gamma mRNA, and nuclear run-on experiments showed that IL-2R gamma gene was transcriptionally active. Stimulation with IL-2 or IFN gamma induced a major increase of IL-2R gamma mRNA in a time- and a dose-dependent manner. However, neither cytokine increased the transcriptional activity of the gene. The enhancement of IL-2R gamma mRNA expression by either IL-2 or IFN gamma was concomitant with the stabilization of the mRNA, suggesting a postranscriptional level of control. Finally, the augmented expression of IL-2R gamma in IL-2- and IFN gamma-treated monocytes was associated with an increased IL-2-binding activity, compared with that of unstimulated cells. These results provide the first evidence of the expression of the IL-2R gamma gene in nonlymphoid cells and of its modulation by IL-2 and IFN gamma through posttranscriptional mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Immunology, National Cancer Institute-Frederick Cancer Research and Development Center 21702-1201.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Bosco
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Espinoza-Delgado
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schwabe
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Gusella
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Longo
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sugamura
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Varesio
mesh_terms: D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D007371:Interferon-gamma