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Similarities between interleukin-2 receptor number and affinity on activated B and T lymphocytes

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Abstract

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is a T-cell-derived polypeptide hormone of 133 amino acids which exerts its growth-promoting activity via a surface receptor1. Originally, IL-2 was believed to be a unique growth factor for activated T cells2; more recent studies, however, have demonstrated that certain B-cell tumours3 as well as normal activated B lymphocytes4–6 express a surface molecule which is recognized by monoclonal antibodies directed against the IL-2 receptor. Furthermore, we7 and others6 have shown recently that activated B cells proliferate in response to either immunoaffinity-purified8 or recombinant9 IL-2. These controversial findings prompted us to undertake a detailed quantitative comparison of IL-2 receptor expression on activated B and T cells. We show here, using biosynthetically labelled IL-2 (3H-IL-2) and anti-IL-2 receptor antibody (3H-PC61) that activated B and T cells express both high-affinity (apparent dissociation constant, Kd ∼ 20 pM) and low-affinity (Kd ∼1,000 pM) IL-2 receptors. Binding of IL-2 to both classes of receptor is inhibited by the monoclonal anti-IL-2 receptor antibody PC61. B blasts express half as many total IL-2 binding sites or PC61 binding sites as T blasts, and the ratio of the number of low- to high-affinity receptors for each cell type is ∼10:1. Immunoprecipitation analysis of surface-labelled blasts indicates that B and T cells have IL-2 receptors of similar relative molecular mass. Taken together, these data suggest strongly that IL-2 can act as a growth hormone for both B and T lymphocytes.

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Author notes

  1. Rudolf H. Zubler

    Present address: Division of Haematology, Department of Medicine, Hôpital Cantonal Universitaire, Geneva, CH-1211, Switzerland

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch, Epalinges, 1066, Switzerland

    John W. Lowenthal & H. Robson MacDonald

  2. Immunology Unit, Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, Epalinges, 1066, Switzerland

    Rudolf H. Zubler

  3. Genetics Unit, Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, Epalinges, 1066, Switzerland

    Markus Nabholz

Authors
  1. John W. Lowenthal
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  2. Rudolf H. Zubler
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  3. Markus Nabholz
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  4. H. Robson MacDonald
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Lowenthal, J., Zubler, R., Nabholz, M. et al. Similarities between interleukin-2 receptor number and affinity on activated B and T lymphocytes. Nature 315, 669–672 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1038/315669a0

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