Interleukin-2 expression by a subpopulation of primary T cells is linked to enhanced memory/effector function.
Single cell studies have identified intraclonal heterogeneity of cytokine production by activated T cells. To investigate implications of cytokine heterogeneity for cell fate, an interleukin (IL)-2 promoter-green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter transgenic model was developed to track IL-2+ and IL-2- T cells during differentiation from naive precursors. Antigen-activated IL-2+ and IL-2- cells had comparable proliferative capacities in primary responses. However, T cells that expressed IL-2 in primary responses demonstrated enhanced antigenic sensitivity and increased expression of effector cytokines in secondary responses in vitro and in vivo. Thus, heterogeneity of activation during a primary response translates into heterogeneous secondary responses, in which enhanced memory/effector function is linked to cells that previously exceeded an activation threshold associated with IL-2 gene transcription.
Saparov
A
A
Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 35294, USA.
Wagner
F H
FH
Zheng
R
R
Oliver
J R
JR
Maeda
H
H
Hockett
R D
RD
Weaver
C T
CT
D000818:Animals; D018801:CD2 Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D007156:Immunologic Memory / Q000276:immunology*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D019076:Transgenes
D018801:CD2 Antigens; D007376:Interleukin-2; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D010047:Ovalbumin