The expression of the 70-kD beta subunit of the interleukin 2 receptor (IL-2R) has been examined on peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) obtained from patients receiving systemic infusions of IL-2. Using monoclonal antibodies directed against p70, flow cytometric analyses revealed a greater than threefold increase in expression of the IL-2R beta chain on CD56+ natural killer (NK) cells from post-IL-2 therapy PBL relative to pre-therapy cells. The level of p70 expression on the post-therapy cells was three- to fourfold greater (based on fluorescence intensity) than the level of p70 expression on YT cells, an NK-like cell line that expresses approximately 12,000 intermediate affinity IL-2 binding sites/cell. Despite the high level of p70 expression, in 125I-IL-2 binding assays only 790-1,290 intermediate affinity IL-2 binding sites/cell were detected on post-therapy cells from six patients. These data represent the first report of increased p70 expression after in vivo IL-2 administration and suggest a requirement for at least one additional subunit for the formation of functional intermediate affinity IL-2Rs. Furthermore, the presence on the surface of post-therapy NK cells of excess p70 that does not bind IL-2 with intermediate affinity implies that the formation of intermediate affinity IL-2Rs is not solely determined by the level of p70 expression, and that the response of NK cells to IL-2 might be regulated by altering the expression of p70 or some other IL-2R subunit.
Article|
October 01 1990
Increased expression of the interleukin 2 (IL-2) receptor beta chain (p70) on CD56+ natural killer cells after in vivo IL-2 therapy: p70 expression does not alone predict the level of intermediate affinity IL-2 binding.
S D Voss,
S D Voss
Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53792.
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R J Robb,
R J Robb
Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53792.
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G Weil-Hillman,
G Weil-Hillman
Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53792.
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J A Hank,
J A Hank
Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53792.
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K Sugamura,
K Sugamura
Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53792.
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M Tsudo,
M Tsudo
Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53792.
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P M Sondel
P M Sondel
Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53792.
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S D Voss
Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53792.
R J Robb
Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53792.
G Weil-Hillman
Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53792.
J A Hank
Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53792.
K Sugamura
Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53792.
M Tsudo
Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53792.
P M Sondel
Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53792.
Online ISSN: 1540-9538
Print ISSN: 0022-1007
J Exp Med (1990) 172 (4): 1101–1114.
Citation
S D Voss, R J Robb, G Weil-Hillman, J A Hank, K Sugamura, M Tsudo, P M Sondel; Increased expression of the interleukin 2 (IL-2) receptor beta chain (p70) on CD56+ natural killer cells after in vivo IL-2 therapy: p70 expression does not alone predict the level of intermediate affinity IL-2 binding.. J Exp Med 1 October 1990; 172 (4): 1101–1114. doi: https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.172.4.1101
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