Interleukin 2 plays a central role in Th2 differentiation

Abstract

Differentiation of naïve CD4 T cells into T helper (

GATA-3 promotes Th2 responses through three different mechanisms: induction of Th2 cytokine production, selective growth of Th2 cells and inhibition of Th1 cell-specific factors

“…For Th2 differentiation, Stat6 activation is necessary and sufficient to transduce IL-4 signaling, at least in vitro [9][10][11]. IL-2 mediated Stat5 activation is also critical for this process [12,13]. In this review, many recent reports by our laboratory…”

“…Recently, Cote-Sierra et al have shown that IL-2 is not required for T cell proliferation and/or survival if IL-4 is added in the culture [12]. Thus, when naïve 5C.C7 CD4 T cells, derived from Rag2 -/-TCR transgenic mice, in which the TCR is specific for pigeon cytochrome C (PCC), were primed under Th2 conditions in vitro (peptide or anti-CD3/anti-CD28 plus IL-4, anti-IL-12 and anti-IFNγ), the proliferative rate, as judged by CFSE dilution, of the cells primed in the absence of IL-2 signaling (through the addition of anti-IL-2 and anti-IL-2Rα) was similar to that of the cells primed in the presence of IL-2, as was the total cell yield.…”

“…Even in the presence of IL-2, these Stat5a-deficient CD4 T cells failed to undergo Th2 differentiation implying that Stat5a activation is required for this differentiation process. A constitutively active form of Stat5a (STAT5A1*6) [18] was introduced by retroviral infection into CD4 T cells during Th2 priming; it was found that expression of STAT5A1*6 fully rescued the IL-4 producing capacity of the cells primed under Th2 conditions in the absence of IL-2, suggesting that Stat5 activation is sufficient to transduce IL-2 signaling for Th2 priming [12]. Many other cytokines including IL-4, IL-7, IL-9 and IL-15 also activate Stat5 [17]; however, the degree of Stat5 tyrosine phosphorylation in these CD4 T cells was greatest in response to IL-2 [12].…”

The role of dendritic cells and regulatory T cells in the regulation of allergic asthma

“…As such both effector and regulatory T cells require IL-2 for growth and differentiation (Le Gros et al, 1990;Papiernik et al, 1998;Cote-Sierra et al, 2004;Fontenot et al, 2005;Yamane et al, 2005). Thus the presence or up-regulation of CD25 cannot unequivocally distinguish Treg from activated effector T cells.…”

“…IL-2 is central to Th2 and Treg cell differentiation and proliferation (Cote-Sierra et al, 2004;de la Rosa et al, 2004). As receptors for IL-2 subunits (e.g.…”