title: [MEKK2 regulates the production of interleukin 2].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the role of MEKK2 on the production of IL-2 in Jurkat cells stimulated by PHA/anti-CD28 antibody.
  
  
  METHODS
  The MEKK2 and JNK kinase activities were measured in both dominant negative MEKK2 Jurkat (dnMEKK2 Jurkat) cells and parental Jurkat cells. The AP(1) and IL-2 promotor activities were measured by luciferase activity assay. The IL-2 mRNA and protein were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After stimulation by PHA/anti-CD28, JNK was activated in parental Jurkat cells but not in dnMEKK2 Jurkat cells. The luciferase report gene activities of AP1 and IL-2 promotors were increased by 4- and 5-folds in parental cells whereas only by 1 fold in dnMEKK2 Jurkat cells. The level of IL-2 mRNA and IL-2 protein were increased in parental Jurkat cells but not in dnMEKK2 Jurkat cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MEKK2 plays an important role on the production of IL-2 in Jurkat cell stimulated with PHA/anti-CD28 antibody. It is a potential drug target for the treatment of GVHD and autoimmune disease.
authors.affiliation: Henan Tumor Hospital, Henan Institute of Hematology, Zhengzhou 450008, China.
authors.forename: Xu-dong
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Rui-hua
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Xing-hu
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Yu-fu
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yan-li
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Quan-li
authors.initials: QL
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Yan-yan
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yong-ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Song
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D019169:Jurkat Cells; D048670:MAP Kinase Kinase 4 / Q000378:metabolism; D048730:MAP Kinase Kinase Kinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D048730:MAP Kinase Kinase Kinase 2; D048670:MAP Kinase Kinase 4