IL-2 and related cytokines can promote T cell survival by activating AKT.
The regulated elimination of T cells serves to maintain normal immune function and prevents autoimmune responses. IL-2 family cytokines play an important role in controlling the survival of immature and mature T cells. These molecules activate the protein kinase, AKT/PKB. AKT has been shown to transduce an antiapoptotic signal in numerous cell types. In this study, we show that an active form of AKT can protect T cells from apoptosis following growth factor withdrawal and that IL-2 family cytokines can promote T cell survival by activating this kinase. We also provide evidence that AKT does not block death receptor-mediated killing of lymphocytes. These data suggest that AKT may serve as a common signaling element by which members of the IL-2 family of cytokines promote T cell survival.
Kelly
Erin
E
Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
Won
Angela
A
Refaeli
Yosef
Y
Van Parijs
Luk
L
D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000502:physiology; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000276:immunology; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009113:Muramidase / Q000276:immunology; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000276:immunology; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000502:physiology
D000941:Antigens; D016207:Cytokines; D007376:Interleukin-2; C111390:OVA 323-339; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D019014:fas Receptor; D010047:Ovalbumin; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; C421864:hen egg lysozyme; D009113:Muramidase