Does the IL-2 receptor alpha chain induced on dendritic cells have a biological function?
The IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) alpha chain (CD25), but not the IL-2R beta chain, is induced on dendritic cells (DC) by brief periods of culture. To test if this IL-2R alpha is important for DC function, DC were isolated from the spleens of mutant mice with the IL-2R alpha gene disrupted and compared with normal DC for ability to stimulate proliferation of allogeneic CD4 and CD8 T cells in culture. The IL-2R alpha null DC and the normal DC produced nearly identical proliferative responses from CD4 and from CD8 T cells. When the CD8 alpha+ and CD8 alpha- subsets of the IL-2R alpha null DC were separated, they also produced proliferative responses similar to that of their normal DC counterparts. Overall there was no evidence that the inducible IL-2R alpha on DC was required for DC development, for stimulation of T cells or for regulation of T cell responses.
Kronin
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The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Vremec
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Shortman
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D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000502:physiology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology
D016827:CD8 Antigens; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2