Abstract
The interaction the lymphokine IL-2 with its cellular receptor (IL-2R) plays a central role in the maturation and immunoregulation of the immune response. Using monoclonal antibodies to the human IL-2R, we have developed a quantitative assay to measure soluble IL-2R. To study the maturation of IL-2R expression, cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMC) were cultured in vitro under various conditions and the IL-2R in cell-free culture supernatants and in detergent solubilized cell extracts were measured. Cultures were stimulated with PHA or the monoclonal antibody OKT3 reacting with the T-cell antigen-receptor complex. Soluble IL-2R were first detected.in culture supernatants 48 hours following activation with either stimulus and the amount of receptor had increased roughly 10-fold by day 7 of culture. Supernatants of cells stimulated with PHA consistently contained 2-5 times more soluble IL-2R by day 7 than those stimulated with OKT3. The culture supernatants and solublized cell extracts of activated CBMC contained amounts of IL-2R comparable to similarly activated adult MNC. When stimulated with pokeweed mitogen, adult MNC secreted both IL-2R and IgM while CBMC secreted only IL-2R suggesting differential maturation and/or immunoregulation of the two responses. However cord blood cells are immunocompetent for IL-2R production in vitro. Soluble IL-2R may have an immunoregulatory role and abnormal levels of soluble IL-2R may also accompany cellular activation in vivo.
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Nelson, D., Kurman, C., Boutin, B. et al. 1012 SOLUBLE INTERLEUKIN-2 RECEPTORS (IL-2R) ARE PRODUCED BY ACTIVATED CORD BLOOD CELLS IN VITRO. Pediatr Res 19, 279 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-01042
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-01042