title: Induction of interleukin-2 receptor alpha (IL-2Ralpha) expression by interleukin-2: important role of the interleukin-2 receptor beta chain region between the two Stat5 docking sites.
abstract: The interleukin-2 receptor alpha (IL-2Ralpha) forms, together with IL-2Rbeta and gammac chains, a high affinity IL-2 receptor that is important for IL-2 responsiveness and normal T cell function. Expression of the IL-2Ralpha gene by T cells is regulated mainly at the transcription level which is transiently activated by antigen and upregulated and then prolonged by stimulation with IL-2. The effect of IL-2 on the IL-2Ralpha gene depends on the activation of the transcription factor Stat5, which acts on an IL-2- responsive enhancer that consists of two Stat5 and an Elf1 binding site. To identify the functional domains of the IL-2 receptor required for the stimulation of IL-2Ralpha gene expression, we introduced, into the CTL44 T cell line, receptor chimeras between the extracellular domain of the IL-9 receptor and the cytoplasmic region of IL-2Rbeta. Analyzing the effect of mutations in the intracellular IL-2Rbeta segment, we found that a minimal receptor containing the Jak boxes and one intact Stat5 docking site (i.e. tyrosine 392 or 510) can, as expected, mediate Stat5 activation, but is unable to stimulate IL-2Ralpha expression. However, when this minimal receptor includes the region between the two tyrosines, its capacity to mediate IL-2Ralpha cell surface expression is restored. These data suggest that the segment between the two Stat5 docking sites of the IL-2Rbeta chain mediates signaling events that, together with Stat5 activation, are essential for the stimulation of IL-2Ralpha gene transcription.
authors.affiliation: Lymphocyte Biology Unit, ISREC 155 ch des Boveresses, CH 1006 Epalinges/Lausanne, Switzerland. imbertv@unice.fr
authors.forename: Véronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Imbert
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rezzonico
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Reichenbach
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nabholz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002460:Cell Line; D017931:DNA Primers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D024202:Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000502:physiology*; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit; D053646:Interleukin-2 Receptor beta Subunit; D051379:Mice; D008894:Milk Proteins; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D011485:Protein Binding; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D050799:STAT5 Transcription Factor; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C508018:Il2ra protein, mouse; C508022:Il2rb protein, mouse; D007376:Interleukin-2; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit; D053646:Interleukin-2 Receptor beta Subunit; D008894:Milk Proteins; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin; D050799:STAT5 Transcription Factor; D015534:Trans-Activators