Regulated expression and function of CD122 (interleukin-2/interleukin-15R-beta) during lymphoid development.
To determine whether signaling via CD122 (interleukin-2 [IL-2]/IL-15 receptor beta-chain) plays a role in regulating the expansion and differentiation of lymphocyte precursors, we have characterized its expression and evaluated its ability to influence the activity of developing lymphoid cells. A significant fraction of Sca1+Lin- hematopoietic stem cells in day 12 fetal liver were found to be CD122+. CD122-mRNA+ and IL-2-mRNA+ cells were also localized in embryo sections within pharyngeal blood vessels adjacent to and surrounding the thymic analgen. This distribution is consistent with the migration of CD122+ progenitor cells from the liver to the developing thymus where a majority of Sca1+ intrathymic T-cell progenitors were CD122+. Analysis of CD122 expression in the day 12 fetal liver revealed that the majority of B220+ cells were CD122+. Furthermore, CD122 expression was restricted to the earliest B220+ cells (CD43+CD24-; prepro B cells; fraction A) that proliferate vigorously to IL-2 in the absence of any stromal cells, but not to IL-15. Consistent with a role for the IL-2/IL-2R pathway in lymphocyte development is the progressive loss of B cells seen in IL-2-deficient mice. Together, these observations suggest that CD122 plays a role in regulating normal lymphocyte development in vivo.
Reya
T
T
Department of Microbiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104-6076, USA.
Yang-Snyder
J A
JA
Rothenberg
E V
EV
Carding
S R
SR
D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002465:Cell Movement; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005865:Gestational Age; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D006413:Hematopoietic System / Q000196:embryology*; D019409:Interleukin-15; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D007378:Interleukins / Q000494:pharmacology; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D016513:Mice, SCID; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology
D019409:Interleukin-15; D007376:Interleukin-2; D007378:Interleukins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2