title: Effects of in vivo thyroid hormone treatment on the expression of interleukin-2 receptors on avian splenocytes.
abstract: Cornell K strain chickens received a diet supplemented with 0, 0.1 and 1.0 ppm T3 from the day of hatching. At 28 days of age, splenocyte suspensions were prepared and analyzed by flow cytometry for interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) and CD3 expression. The low T3 dose increased the percentage of resting small cells expressing IL-2R while the mean fluorescence for this marker was enhanced only after mitogenic activation. This treatment did not alter the number of larger cells positive for IL-2R but did increase their mean fluorescence following mitogenic activation. The high T3 dose depressed the numbers of cells positive for IL-2R and their mean fluorescence amongst all splenocyte preparations. Both levels of T3 enhanced the numbers of CD3-positive cells in all cell preparations. These results suggest that the IL-2R expression can be modulated by in vivo T3 supplementation and that these correlate with the previously demonstrated changes in IL-2-like activity. The regulation of IL-2R expression provides one mechanism through which thyroid status may regulate immune function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chandratilleke
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hàla
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Marsh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000378:metabolism; D002645:Chickens; D004032:Diet; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D017252:CD3 Complex; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D014284:Triiodothyronine