title: The human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) receptor exists as a preformed receptor complex that can be activated by GM-CSF, interleukin-3, or interleukin-5.
abstract: The granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) receptor is expressed on normal and malignant hematopoietic cells as well as on cells from other organs in which it transduces a variety of functions. Despite the widespread expression and pleiotropic nature of the GM-CSF receptor, little is known about its assembly and activation mechanism. Using a combination of biochemical and functional approaches, we have found that the human GM-CSF receptor exists as an inducible complex, analogous to the interleukin-3 (IL-3) receptor, and also as a preformed complex, unlike the IL-3 receptor or indeed other members of the cytokine receptor superfamily. We found that monoclonal antibodies to the GM-CSF receptor alpha chain (GMR alpha) and to the common beta chain of the GM-CSF, IL-3, and IL-5 receptors (beta(c)) immunoprecipitated both GMR alpha and beta(c) from the surface of primary myeloid cells, myeloid cell lines, and transfected cells in the absence of GM-CSF. Further association of the two chains could be induced by the addition of GM-CSF. The preformed complex required only the extracellular regions of GMR alpha and beta(c), as shown by the ability of soluble beta(c) to associate with membrane-anchored GMR alpha or soluble GMR alpha. Kinetic experiments on eosinophils and monocytes with radiolabeled GM-CSF, IL-3, and IL-5 showed association characteristics unique to GM-CSF. Significantly, receptor phosphorylation experiments showed that not only GM-CSF but also IL-3 and IL-5 stimulated the phosphorylation of GMR alpha-associated beta(c). These results indicate a pattern of assembly of the heterodimeric GM-CSF receptor that is unique among receptors of the cytokine receptor superfamily. These results also suggest that the preformed GM-CSF receptor complex mediates the instantaneous binding of GM-CSF and is a target of phosphorylation by IL-3 and IL-5, raising the possibility that some of the biologic activities of IL-3 and IL-5 are mediated through the GM-CSF receptor complex.
authors.affiliation: Division of Human Immunology, Hanson Centre for Cancer Research, Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science, Adelaide, South Australia.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Woodcock
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: McClure
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Stomski
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Elliott
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Bagley
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Lopez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016466:CHO Cells; D006224:Cricetinae; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007377:Interleukin-3 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053614:Janus Kinase 2; D007700:Kinetics; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011487:Protein Conformation; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D016187:Receptors, Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D012995:Solubility; D013499:Surface Properties; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D007377:Interleukin-3; D015848:Interleukin-5; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D016187:Receptors, Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; C507924:JAK2 protein, human; D053614:Janus Kinase 2