title: Ligand-independent down-regulation of IFN-gamma receptor 1 following TCR engagement.
abstract: Activated T lymphocytes modulate the level of many molecules on their cell surface, including cytokine receptors. This regulation of cytokine receptor expression affects the ability of T cells to respond to cytokines and thus influences the outcome of an immune response. The receptor for IFN-gamma, a proinflammatory cytokine, consists of two copies of a ligand binding chain (IFN-gammaR1) as well as two copies of a second chain (IFN-gammaR2) required for signal transduction. The expression of IFN-gammaR2 is down-regulated at the mRNA level on CD4+ T cells when they differentiate into the Th1, but not the Th2, phenotype. This down-regulation has been demonstrated to depend on the ligand, IFN-gamma, which is produced by Th1 but not Th2 T cells. The regulation of the cell-surface expression of IFN-gamma receptors during primary T cell activation has not been reported. Naive and differentiated T lymphocytes express IFN-gammaR1 at the mRNA level and as a cell-surface protein. In this study, we present evidence that cell-surface expression of IFN-gammaR1 is transiently down-regulated on the surface of naive CD4+ T cells shortly after TCR engagement. Furthermore, this down-regulation is not mediated by the ligand, IFN-gamma, but results from TCR engagement and can be inhibited by cyclosporin A.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Genetics, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School-University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Skrenta
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pestka
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Fathman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000276:immunology*; D005110:Extracellular Space / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007424:Intracellular Fluid / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008024:Ligands; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D017471:Receptors, Interferon / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors; D000096743:Interferon gamma Receptor
chemical_list: D007371:Interferon-gamma; D008024:Ligands; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D017471:Receptors, Interferon; D000096743:Interferon gamma Receptor