Expression and role of interleukin‐2 receptor β chain on CD4⁻CD8⁺ T cell receptor αβ⁺ cells

Abstract

Using anti-murine interleukin-2 receptor beta chain (IL-2R beta) monoclonal antibody (mAb), we have examined the expression of IL-2R beta on murine thymocyte subpopulations. We found that it was constitutively expressed on 1%-4% of thymocytes in an almost mutually exclusive fashion with IL-2R alpha. The expression of IL-2R beta is developmentally regulated. While it is expressed mainly on T cell receptor gamma delta+ (TcR gamma delta+) cells during fetal age, the major subpopulation expressing IL-2R beta in adult mouse shifts to CD4-CD8-TcR alpha beta+ thymocytes. A considerable portion of CD4-CD8- TcR alpha beta+ cells in other organs, including spleen, bone marrow and liver, was also found to express IL-2R beta. In fetal thymus organ culture, the above thymocyte subset was induced to expand in response to exogeneous IL-2, and the expansion was inhibited by addition of anti-IL-2R beta mAb, suggesting that IL-2R beta is functional in this subpopulation. However, in vivo blockade of the IL-2/IL-2R pathway with the mAb did not exert any effects on the appearance of CD4-CD8- TcR alpha beta+ cells both in the thymus and the periphery. This indicates that the development of CD4-CD8- TcR alpha beta+ cells is not solely controlled by IL-2 but also by other complex elements.

Interleukins (IL)‐1 and IL‐2 control IL‐2 receptor α and β expression in immature thymocytes

“…Among fresh DN thymocytes the subset that expresses IL-2Ra is distinct from that carrying detectable surface IL-2Rp [7], and this dichotomy is reflected by the distribution of IL-2Ra and IL-2Rf3 transcripts (results not shown). Thus, the question arose whether this was still the case after stimulation and in vitro culture.…”

“…They are of unknown origin and function.The DN CD3-HSA+ cells are precursors of mature ap or yS Tcells, in the process of rearranging and expressing their TcR genes in preparation for surface expression of a functional TcR. Around 65% of the DN CD3-cells express IL-2Ra [8,9] but cannot be stained with an anti-IL-2Rp antibody ( [7] and results not shown). Whether the IL-2Ra molecules on DN CD3thymocytes have any function is controversial.…”

“…Around 15% of them express CD3 and either a@ (75%) or y6 (25%) T cell receptors (TcR).The ap+ cells are HSA-, while the CD3-as well as most of the y6+ cells are HSA+. More than 95% of DN CD3+ thymocytes express IL-2RP but not IL-2Ra chains on their surface [7]. They are of unknown origin and function.The DN CD3-HSA+ cells are precursors of mature ap or yS Tcells, in the process of rearranging and expressing their TcR genes in preparation for surface expression of a functional TcR.…”

The role of the interleukin‐2 (IL‐2)/IL‐2 receptor pathway in MRL/lpr lymphadenopathy: The expanded CD4−8− T cell subset completely lacks functional IL‐2 receptors

“…As depicted in Fig. l sion of IL-2Rp, which contrasts to unambiguous IL-2Rp expression in CD4-8-a p TcR+ thymocyte in normal mice [13]. Conversely, readily detectable levels of IL-2RB were observed in cells of supposedly normal phenotype such as B220-( Fig.…”

Collaboration of helper and cytotoxic T lymphocytes

“…IFN-y seems to be involved in the development of cytotoxicity and is believed to be the cytotoxicity-determining factor [23][24][25][26][27].We tested the role of these two lymphokines in the in vitro induction assays. To cultures with 3000 of each 4G3, DO2 and OVA-pulsed LB, monoclonal antibodies with specificities …”