title: Triiodothyronine enhances expression of the interleukin-2 receptor alpha chain.
abstract: The effect of thyroid hormone on immune function is unclear. The influence of L-triiodothyronine on expression of the interleukin-2 receptor alpha chain by peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy volunteers and YT cells (an interleukin-2 independent natural killer-like cell line) was examined. Concanavalin A stimulation significantly (p<0.05 and p<0.01) increased soluble interleukin-2 receptor alpha chain production when mononuclear cells were cultured with triiodothyronine (1-100 nmol/l) for 3 days. The stimulatory effect of triiodothyronine on interleukin-2 receptor alpha chain expression was greater in the presence of concanavalin A (5 microg/ml) plus interleukin-2 (1 U/ml) than in the presence of concanavalin A alone. Triiodothyronine also significantly (p<0.01) increased interleukin-2 receptor alpha chain expression when YT cells were cultured for 2 days with interleukin-2 (1 U/ml), but did not influence receptor expression when YT cells were cultured with forskolin or 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate, potent activators of signal transduction. In conclusion, triiodothyronine may have an immunomodulatory effect by enhancing expression of the interleukin-2 receptor alpha chain on peripheral blood mononuclear cells in the presence of interleukin-2.
authors.affiliation: The Third Department of Internal Medicine, Ehime University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakanishi
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Taniguchi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Onji
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005576:Colforsin / Q000494:pharmacology; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000378:metabolism; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism; D008223:Lymphoma; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000235:genetics*; D012995:Solubility; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D014284:Triiodothyronine; D003208:Concanavalin A; D005576:Colforsin; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate