Mitogenic effects of partially purified interleukin 2 on thymocyte subpopulations and spleen T cells of the mouse

✍ Scribed by Berthold G. D. Bödeker; Ronald V. W. van Eijk; Peter F. Mühlradt

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1980
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 607 KB
• Volume: 10
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0014-2980
• DOI: 10.1002/eji.1830100909

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Partially purified interleukin 2 (IL‐2) promotes proliferation of mouse spleen T, but not B cells, and of peanut‐agglutinin‐negative (PNA^−^), and cortisone‐resistant “mature” thymocytes, but not of PNA^+^ “immature” thymocytes. Within the cortisone‐resistant thymocyte population, IL‐2‐responsive cells were found in the blast cell fraction. Proliferation was measured by [^3^H] thymidine incorporation and subsequent increase in viable cells. The mitogenic effect of IL‐2 could not be inhibited by 50 mM methyl‐α‐D‐mannoside which excludes contaminating concanavalin A (Con A) as a cause of mitogenicity. The relative increase in viable cells in IL‐2 vs. control cultures was abrogated by 1.5 mM hydroxyurea. A possible effect of IL‐2 on cell survival is thus ruled out. IL‐2, when acting as comitogen with Con A, affected only PNA^−^ and cortisone‐resistant thymocytes. These cells also showed high intrinsic IL‐2 release when stimulated with Con A such that a comitogenic effect of externally added IL‐2 was only seen at low cell concentrations. PNA^+^ thymocytes could neither be induced to release IL‐2 nor did these cells become Con A‐responsive under the influence of IL‐2, thereby excluding an IL‐2‐mediated maturation.