Expression of functional interleukin-2 receptors in human light chain/Tac transgenic mice

The growth of mature T lymphocytes is regulated by interaction between interleukin-2 (IL-2) and its receptor. Three distinct binding sites for IL-2, namely low- (Kd 10 nM), intermediate- (Kd 100 pM) and high- (Kd 10 pM) affinity sites, have been found on human and primate T lymphocytes. Chemical crosslinking of labelled IL-2 to human T cells shows that two polypeptide chains, p55 (L chain) and p75 (H chain), bind IL-2 with low and intermediate affinities respectively. The high-affinity binding was shown to arise from ternary complex formation of IL-2, L and H chains. Construction of mutants of the L-chain complementary DNA indicated that the L chain is not directly involved in growth signal transduction. Nevertheless, expression of the IL-2 receptor L chain is tightly regulated by antigen or mitogen stimulation. To investigate the L chain function, we have produced transgenic mice using human L-chain cDNA of the IL-2 receptor under the control of a constitutive promoter. Studies on the L-chain transgenic mice showed that functionally active IL-2 receptors with high affinity were expressed on unstimulated spleen and thymus cells. The results indicate that the H chain of the IL-2 receptor is constitutively expressed in T cells.     

Expression and functional characterization of artificial mutants of interleukin-2 receptor

The physiological proliferation of T lymphocytes (T cells) requires interaction between the humoral growth factor, interleukin 2 (IL-2) and its cell-surface receptor. Studies of IL-2 binding to the IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) on T cells have revealed that there are two distinct species of IL-2R, one with high and one with low affinity. Isolation and characterization of cDNA for the human IL-2R made it possible to deduce the complete primary sequence (251 residues) of the receptor protein. However, expression of IL-2R alone is not sufficient for either growth signal transduction or high-affinity site formation: another lymphocyte-specific molecule called converter seems to be required for the biological activity of IL-2R. We found that the converter did not form a stable complex with IL-2R unless the receptor bound the ligand (the 'affinity conversion' model). To discover which are the functionally important parts of the human IL-2R we have constructed artificial mutant cDNAs encoding the receptor. The mutant receptors produced from them had deletions or substitutions in the cytoplasmic region (13 residues), the transmembrane region (19 residues) or the carboxy-terminal portion of the extracellular region (219 residues). All were active in growth signal transduction, efficient internalization and high-affinity site formation in two mouse T-cell lines, suggesting that the extracellular region of IL-2R and the converter may be responsible for growth signal transduction.     

Stimulation of specific GTP binding and hydrolysis activities in lymphocyte membrane by interleukin-2

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is a polypeptide growth factor which stimulates the proliferation and differentiation of T lymphocytes. The receptor for IL-2 is expressed on activated T lymphocytes, cloned IL-2 dependent cells and several other cell types. Analysis of the primary structure and of immune-precipitated receptor suggests that this molecule has no intrinsic signal transduction function, unlike other growth factors. IL-2 interaction with a high affinity receptor has been shown, however, to activate the calcium/phospholipid-dependent protein kinase C (PK-C) presumably via phosphoinositide hydrolysis. Members of a family of closely related guanine nucleotide binding proteins (G proteins) regulate a diverse group of metabolic events. Two of them, Gs and Gi, stimulate and inhibit adenylate cyclase activity respectively, and other G proteins are involved in diverse signal transduction system. Another member, Go, has no known function and activation of phospholipase C has been attributed to the action of an unidentified G protein, Gp. Since it has been observed that IL-2 inhibits the catalytic activity of adenylate cyclase and that agents such as PGE2 which stimulate adenylate cyclase activity inhibit the lymphoproliferative response to IL-2, association of GTP binding proteins with IL-2 signal transduction was investigated. In this report we describe for the first time the participation of a GTP binding protein in the action of a polypeptide growth factor, interleukin-2.     

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

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is a T-cell-derived polypeptide hormone of 133 amino acids which exerts its growth-promoting activity via a surface receptor. Originally, IL-2 was believed to be a unique growth factor for activated T cells; more recent studies, however, have demonstrated that certain B-cell tumours as well as normal activated B lymphocytes express a surface molecule which is recognized by monoclonal antibodies directed against the IL-2 receptor. Furthermore, we and others have shown recently that activated B cells proliferate in response to either immunoaffinity-purified or recombinant 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 approximately 20 pM) and low-affinity (Kd approximately 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 approximately 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.     

Expression of functional human interleukin-2 receptor in mouse T cells by cDNA transfection

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) in combination with the IL-2 receptor has an essential role in antigen-stimulated proliferation of T lymphocytes. It has been proposed that the constitutive expression of the IL-2 receptor on adult T-cell leukaemia (ATL) cells may be associated with transformation of T cells. Although we and others have isolated complementary DNA clones encoding a protein that binds IL-2, formal proof that this protein is the IL-2 receptor requires demonstration of IL-2-dependent growth stimulation of cells expressing the protein. In addition, a functional assay system other than binding of IL-2 is required to investigate the molecular mechanism of signal transmission through the IL-2 receptor using artificially mutated cDNA. The IL-2 receptor expressed in non-lymphoid cells by cDNA transfection did not mediate a growth signal, implying that lymphoid cells expressing the functional receptor might have specific accessory molecule(s) for signal transmission by the receptor. Therefore, we established a line of IL-2-dependent mouse cells (CT/hR) expressing both murine (endogenous) and human IL-2 receptors. Here, by blocking the endogenous mouse IL-2 receptors with monoclonal antibodies, we show that the human IL-2 receptor of CT/hR cells is functionally active. Although CT/hR expressed the human IL-2 receptor constitutively, growth of these cells was strictly dependent on IL-2, indicating that uncontrolled over-expression of the IL-2 receptor was not by itself sufficient for T-cell transformation.     

Characterization of receptors for human tumour necrosis factor and their regulation by gamma-interferon

Tumour necrosis factors, TNF-alpha and TNF-beta (previously called lymphotoxin), are the products of activated monocytes and lymphocytes, respectively, and both have recently been purified, sequenced and cloned by recombinant DNA methods, revealing 35% identity and 50% homology in the amino-acid sequence. Both proteins have been found to be specifically toxic to many tumour cells. Furthermore, it has been reported that various interferons are synergistic with TNF for anti-tumour effects in vitro, while activities attributed to the two proteins have also been shown to necrotize various tumours in vivo. We have now prepared 125I-labelled highly purified recombinant human TNF-alpha to study in detail its binding to the human cervical carcinoma cell line ME-180. Our results indicate that there is a single class of specific high-affinity receptors for TNF on this cell line which has a Kd of about 0.2 nM and an average of 2,000 receptor sites per cell. The binding of labelled TNF-alpha to these cells can be inhibited by both TNF-alpha and TNF-beta but not by gamma-interferon (IFN-gamma). However, preincubation of cells with IFN-gamma increases the total number of TNF receptors two to threefold without any significant change in the affinity constant. This is the first report that TNF-alpha and -beta share a common receptor and that the receptors can be up-regulated by interferon. Our results may explain previous observations regarding similar biological activities observed for these two cytotoxic proteins and also their synergistic action with interferons.     

A second human interleukin-2 binding protein that may be a component of high-affinity interleukin-2 receptors

Although activated human T and B lymphocytes express both high-affinity and low-affinity membrane receptors for interleukin-2 (IL-2), the structural features that distinguish these receptors have remained unresolved. The high-affinity receptors appear to mediate IL-2 induced T cell growth and internalization of IL-2, whereas no function has yet been ascribed to the low-affinity receptors. The Tac antigen is an IL-2 binding protein of relative molecular mass 55,000 (Mr 55K) that participates in the formation of both high- and low-affinity receptors. But Tac complementary DNA transfection and membrane fusion studies have suggested that additional T-cell components are required to produce high-affinity IL-2 receptors. In this study, we report the identification of a second human IL-2 binding protein that (1) has an Mr of approximately 70K, (2) lacks reactivity with the anti-Tac antibody, (3) binds IL-2 with intermediate affinity and (4) is present on the surface of resting T cells, large granular lymphocytes (natural killer cells), and certain T and B cell lines in the absence of the Tac antigen. Chemical crosslinking of 125I-labelled IL-2 bound to high-affinity IL-2 receptors produces labelling of both the p70 protein and the Tac antigen and the anti-Tac antibody blocks the crosslink detection of both of these proteins. Expression of Tac cDNA in a T cell line expressing the p70 protein, but lacking both Tac and high-affinity receptors, results in the reconstitution of high-affinity IL-2 receptors in these cells. Together, these findings suggest that the high-affinity human IL-2 receptor may be a membrane complex composed of at least the p70 protein and Tac antigen.     

Interleukin-2 stimulates association of protein kinase C with plasma membrane

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is a regulatory peptide important for the growth and differentiation of antigen-specific T lymphocytes and large granular lymphocytes. Interaction of IL-2 with its specific receptor results in the promotion of S-phase progression as well as, in certain circumstances, the production and release of gamma-interferon (IFN-gamma). Although the binding of IL-2 with high-affinity specific receptors has been well characterized, the intracellular mechanisms by which this ligand-receptor interaction promotes growth and differentiation are unknown. Here, we present evidence that IL-2/receptor interaction produces a rapid and transient redistribution of protein kinase C (PK-C) from the cytosol to the plasma membrane. Phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) also induces PK-C transposition in an analogous manner, except that PMA-induced PK-C transposition to the plasma membrane is apparently protracted. As phorbol esters have been shown to mimic IL-2 in the regulation of cellular proliferation as well as IFN-gamma production, the activation of PK-C by either phorbol esters or IL-2/receptor interaction seems to have a crucial role in signal transduction elicited by these extracellular messengers.     

Human interleukin-2 promotes proliferation of activated B cells via surface receptors similar to those of activated T cells

Human interleukin-2 (IL-2) is a glycoprotein of relative molecular mass (Mr) 15,000, which is released by T lymphocytes on stimulation with antigen or mitogen and functions as a T-cell growth factor (TCGF) by inducing proliferation of activated T cells. It is generally accepted that resting or activated B cells do not respond directly to IL-2 but require for their proliferation other T-cell-derived lymphokines usually referred to as B-cell growth factors (BCGFs). Recently, however, a monoclonal antibody reacting with the IL-2 receptor molecules expressed by activated T cells (anti-Tac) was shown to react also with certain B tumour cells; in addition, murine B cells proliferate in response to pure human IL-2. We now show that recombinant IL-2, derived from Escherichia coli expressing the human gene, is able to promote strong proliferation of human B cells activated with protein-A-rich Staphylococcus aureus Cowans strain I. Moreover, we demonstrate that the anti-Tac antibody also reacts with S. aureus-activated normal B cells and inhibits sharply the proliferative response of such cells to IL-2. Finally, immunoprecipitation experiments reveal that anti-Tac defines similar molecules on activated T and B cells.     

Myc rescue of a mutant CSF-1 receptor impaired in mitogenic signalling.

The colony-stimulating factor-1 receptor (CSF-1R) mediates its pleiotropic effects through the coupling of its ligand-activated tyrosine kinase to multiple intracellular effector proteins, whose combined actions determine the magnitude and specificity of the biological response. The interaction of cytoplasmic signalling molecules with CSF-1R is mediated in part by sequence motifs flanking sites of receptor tyrosine phosphorylation. Mutation of an autophosphorylation site at tyrosine 809 in the cytoplasmic domain of human CSF-1R does not significantly reduce its ligand-stimulated tyrosine kinase activity, binding to phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, or induction of the immediate early response genes, c-fos and junB (ref.2). Unlike cells bearing wild-type receptors, mouse NIH3T3 cells expressing mutant CSF-1R(Phe 809) were unable to grow in serum-free medium containing human recombinant CSF-1 and did not form colonies in semi-solid medium in its presence. CSF-1 induction of c-myc messenger RNA in these cells was impaired, but enforced expression of an exogenous c-myc gene restored their ability to proliferate in response to the growth factor. These studies demonstrate a receptor-mediated bifurcation of intracellular signal transduction pathways during the immediate early response and assign a central role for c-myc in CSF-1-induced mitogenesis.     

A new immunomodulating compound (AS-101) with potential therapeutic application

There has been interest in the potential of synthetic compounds to modify immune responses by imitation of cytokine action. Direct administration of interleukin 2 (IL-2) in conjunction with adoptive transfer of lymphokine activated killer cells has been used in the treatment of cancer, but there are toxic effects resulting from the high doses of IL-2 required. We have developed a new synthetic compound, ammonium tri-chloro(dioxoethylene-O,O'-)tellurate (AS-101), which has immunomodulating properties and minimal toxicity. The effects of AS-101 on the activation and function of immunocompetent cells have been assessed. We have found that AS-101 induces proliferation and IL-2 production by human lymphocytes in vitro, and enhances the production of IL-2 and colony-stimulating factor by mouse spleen cells. Splenocytes of BALB/c mice injected with AS-101 increased production of IL-2 and CSF in vitro in the presence of mitogen. Mononuclear cells of normal donors acquired responsiveness to recombinant IL-2 and bound monoclonal antibody to IL-2 receptor after incubation with AS-101. Splenocytes of mice treated in vivo with AS-101 expressed high levels of IL-2 receptor. The stimulation of lymphocytes by AS-101 apparently involves an increase in intracellular free calcium. AS-101 administered systemically to mice mediated antitumour effects which could be attributable to its immunomodulatory properties. In addition, AS-101 could directly enhance the ratio of OKT4 to OKT8-positive cells in cultured mononuclear cells from AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) patients. These results indicate that AS-101 is potentially useful in the treatment of clinical conditions involving immunosuppression.     

Recombinant interleukin-2 directly augments the cytotoxicity of human monocytes

Interleukin-2 (IL-2), originally described as a growth factor required for sustained proliferation of T cells in vitro is a glycoprotein hormone of known structure which appears to be important for the generation of immune responses in vivo. As well as T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes and large granular lymphocytes with natural killer activity (NK cells) can also respond to IL-2. The action of IL-2 seemed to be limited specifically to lymphocytes, however, and the term 'T-lymphocytotrophic hormone' was used. Here we provide evidence that human monocytes display a substantially increased cytotoxic activity as a direct and rapid response to human recombinant IL-2 but not to human recombinant glycosylated interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) or lipopolysaccharide. Our results reveal a previously unknown function of IL-2 and suggest its possible involvement in monocyte-T cell interactions.     

分泌型Survivin真核表达载体的构建及其在HeLa细胞中的表达

目的:构建含6个组氨酸标签(His6)的小鼠存活素(Survivin)融合蛋白的真核表达载体,及其在真核细胞中的表达。方法:根据小鼠Survivin序列设计引物,经过RT-PCR克隆Survivin的cDNA并进一步构建分泌型Sur-vivin的真核表达载体,经测序鉴定后在大肠杆菌中扩增在HeLa细胞中表达;以金属离子螯合层析富集,再用免疫印迹法鉴定。结果:克隆到Survivin编码区全长序列,经DNA测序后证明与已报道序列相同。构建氨基端融合小鼠IL-2信号肽,羧基端带有His6标签的Survivin融合蛋白的真核表达载体,在HeLa细胞中转染成功并且表达;细胞上清经HisTrap HP柱层析富集后,进行免疫印迹分析,表明该融合蛋白以分泌型方式在HeLa细胞中表达。结论:成功克隆Survivin的cDNA,并构建其分泌型真核表达载体。     

Stimulation of the phosphatidylinositol pathway can induce T-cell activation

The T-cell antigen receptor (TCR) regulates two signal transduction pathways: the phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) and tyrosine kinase pathways. Stimulation of T cells with antigen or anti-TCR monoclonal antibodies induces an increase in inositol phosphates and diacylglycerol, the second messengers responsible for the mobilization of cytoplasmic free calcium and activation of protein kinase C-4. The TCR also activates a tyrosine kinase that is not intrinsic to the TCR. The relationship between these two signal transduction pathways and their contribution to later T-cell responses is unclear. Studies using variants of a murine hybridoma suggested that the PtdIns pathway might not be necessary for or be involved in regulating interleukin-2 (IL-2) production. To address the relationship between later T-cell responses and the early biochemical signals, we investigated the ability of a heterologous receptor with defined signal transduction function to induce T-cell activation. The human muscarinic subtype-1 receptor (HM1), which elicits PtdIns metabolism in neuronal cells through a G protein-coupled mechanism, also functionally activates this pathway when expressed in the T-cell line Jurkat-derived host, J-HM1-2.2 (ref.8). We show here that stimulation of HM1 alone induced IL-2 production and IL-2 receptor alpha chain expression. HM1 does not induce the tyrosine kinase pathway, suggesting that this pathway does not directly influence later T cell-activation responses. Instead, our studies indicate that activation of the PtdIns pathway is probably sufficient to induce later T-cell responses.     

Cloning of a putative high-affinity kainate receptor expressed predominantly in hippocampal CA3 cells.

Kainic acid is a potent neurotoxin for certain neurons. Its neurotoxicity is thought to be mediated by an excitatory amino-acid-gated ion channel (ionotropic receptor) possessing nanomolar affinity for kainate. Here we describe a new member of the rat excitatory amino-acid receptor gene family, KA-1, that has a 30% sequence similarity with the previously characterized alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid (AMPA) receptor subunits GluR-A to -D. The pharmacological profile of expressed recombinant KA-1 determined in binding experiments with [3H]kainate is different from that of the cloned AMPA receptors and similar to the mammalian high-affinity kainate receptor (kainate greater than quisqualate greater than glutamate much greater than AMPA) with a dissociation constant of about 5 nM for kainate. The selectively high expression of KA-1 messenger RNA in the CA3 region of the hippocampus closely corresponds to autoradiographically located high-affinity kainate binding sites. This correlation, as well as the particular in vivo pattern of neurodegeneration observed on kainate-induced neurotoxicity, suggests that KA-1 participates in receptors mediating the kainate sensitivity of neurons in the central nervous system.     

Signal for IL-2 internalization located in the endocellular domain of IL-2R γ subunit only

Interleukin-2(IL-2) is an important immunoregulatory factor. After the interaction between IL-2 and its receptor, intracellular signal molecules were activated and pro-oncogenes, e.g. c-Myc, c-Fos, c-Jun and Bcl-2 were induced, then cells stimulated with IL-2 would proliferate or differentiate. During these processes, IL-2 were internalized. The internalization of IL-2 mediated by IL-2R decreases the number of IL-2R on cell membranes, and makes extracellular IL-2 enter cells and degrade. It will down-regulate IL-2 biological activities. In order to identify the IL-2R subunit responsible for IL-2 internalization, chimeric IL-2Rs which consisted of different endocellular domains and extracellular domains from various IL-2R subunits were constructed. After they were transfected into L929 cell line, the IL-2 internalization was detected. Results showed that intracellular domains from IL-2R α and β subunits could not mediate IL-2 internalization alone; the signal for IL-2 internalization was located only in the endocellular domain of IL-2R γ subunit. Furthermore, IL-2 internalization extent would be affected by affinity between IL-2 and IL-2R.     

Transient expression of IL-2 receptor precedes the differentiation of immature thymocytes

The growth of mature T lymphocytes after activation by antigen is regulated by the binding and endocytosis of interleukin-2 (IL-2). In the thymus, approximately 50% of adult thymocytes that carry neither the CD4 nor the CD8 antigen and day 14-15 fetal CD4-8- thymocytes express receptors for IL-2(IL-2R). The CD4-8- (double-negative) subpopulation of thymocytes contains the precursors of cells that can differentiate along an unknown pathway into thymocytes bearing either CD8 or CD4, with the characteristics of mature T lymphocytes. The basis for IL-2R expression by double-negative thymocytes is unclear as they appear to lack a functional T-cell receptor/CD3 complex through which activation of peripheral T cells is mediated. The argument for a role for IL-2 in thymocyte differentiation has also been complicated by conflicting reports on the inability or capability of double-negative thymocytes to respond to IL-2 in vitro. At present, both the nature of the stimuli within the thymic micro-environment which induce IL-2R expression and its relevance to thymocyte differentiation are not known. We show here that the IL-2R-bearing subset has a greater potential to differentiate into phenotypically mature T lymphocytes than do IL-2R-negative thymocytes. In addition, progeny of IL-2R-negative donor cells transiently express IL-2R in the thymuses of adoptive hosts before generating CD8 and/or CD4-positive thymocytes. These results identify the IL-2R-positive cells as a more differentiated double-negative thymocyte subset on the pathway to mature T lymphocytes.