Expression of functional IL‐2 receptors on mature splenic dendritic cells

• Published in: European journal of immunology 2000-05, Vol.30 (5), p.1453-1457
• Main Authors: Fukao, Taro, Koyasu, Shigeo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Cell Differentiation - immunology; Dendritic cell; Dendritic Cells - cytology; Dendritic Cells - immunology; g-Interferon; IFN‐γ; IL‐12; IL‐2; IL‐2 receptor; interleukin 2 receptors; Interleukin-12 - immunology; Interleukin-2 - immunology; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Receptors, Interleukin-2 - immunology; Signal Transduction - immunology; Spleen - cytology; Spleen - immunology
• ISSN: 0014-2980; 1521-4141
• DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1521-4141(200005)30:5<1453::AID-IMMU1453>3.0.CO;2-W

We report here the expression of functional IL‐2 receptor (IL‐2R) on mature splenic dendritic cells (DC) and synergistic effect of IL‐2 on IFN‐γ production by DC. IL‐2 augmented IL‐12‐dependent IFN‐γ production by DC purified from both splenocytes of wild‐type and anti‐asialoGM1 Ab‐treated Rag‐2–/– splenocytes devoid of T, B, NK and NKT cells. A neutralizing mAb against IL‐2Rα blocked such enhancing effect of IL‐2 on IFN‐γ production, indicating the presence of functional IL‐2R on DC. Synergistic effects of IL‐2 were also observed on IFN‐γ production by DC stimulated through CD40 or MHC class II, suggesting that T cell‐derived IL‐2 can act on DC during antigen presentation. Furthermore, we provide evidence that DC produce IFN‐γ during interaction with allogeneic CD4+ T cells from IFN‐γ–/– mice. These results suggest that IL‐2 produced by naive T cells upon antigen stimulation is an important factor during Th0 to Th1 differentiation by inducing IFN‐γ from DC.