Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

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

Nature volume 329, pages 157–159 (1987)Cite this article

Abstract

The growth of mature T lymphocytes after activation by antigen is regulated by the binding and endocytosis of interleukin-2 (IL-2)1,2. In the thymus, ∼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)3–5. 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 lymphocytes6,7. 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 mediated8. The argument for a role for IL-2 in thymocyte differentiation has also been complicated by conflicting reports on the inability9–12 or capability4,13 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.

Access through your institution
Buy or subscribe

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Access through your institution

Buy this article

  • Purchase on SpringerLink
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Robb, R. J., Munck, A. & Smith, K. A. J. exp. Med. 154, 1455–1474 (1981).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Malek, T. R., Ortega, R. G., Jakway, J. P., Chan, C. & Shevach, E. M. J. Immun. 133, 1976–1982 (1984).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Ceredig, R., Lowenthal, J. W., Nabhoz, M. & MacDonald, H. R. Nature 314, 98–100 (1985).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Raulet, D. H. Nature 314, 101–103 (1985).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Habu, S., Okumura, S., Diamanstein, T. & Shevach, E. M. Eur. J. Immun. 15, 456–460 (1985).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Fowlkes, B. J., Edison, L., Mathieson, B. J. & Chused, T. M. J. exp. Med. 162, 802–822 (1985).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Kingston, R., Jenkinson, E. J. & Owen, J. J. T. Nature 317, 811–813 (1985).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Pardoll, D. M. et al. Nature 326, 79–81 (1987).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Von Boehmer, H., Crisanti, A., Kisielow, P. & Haas, W. Nature 314, 539–540 (1985).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Palacios, R. & von Boehmer, H. Eur. J. Immun. 16, 12–19 (1986).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Ceredig, R. J. Immun. 137, 2260–2267 (1986).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Lowenthal, J. W., Howe, R. C., Ceredig, R. & MacDonald, H. R. J. Immun. 137, 2579–2584 (1986).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Hardt, C., Diamanstein, T. & Wagner, H. J. Immun. 134, 3891–3894 (1985).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Lugo, J. P. et al. J. exp. Med. 161, 1048–1062 (1985).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Sharon, M., Klausner, R. D., Cullen, B. R., Chizzonite, R. & Leonard, W. J. Science 234, 859–863 (1986).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Teshigawara, K., Wang, H.-M., Kato, K. & Smith, K. A. J. exp. Med. 165, 223–238 (1987).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Lugo, J. P., Krishnan, S. N., Sailor, R. D. & Rothenberg, E. V. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 83, 1862–1866 (1986).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Hyman, R., Lesley, J., Schulte, R. & Trotter, J. Cell Immun. 101, 320–327 (1986).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. MacKay, C. R., Maddox, J. F. & Brandon, M. R. J. Immun. 136, 1592–1599 (1986).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Kisielow, R., Leiserson, W. & von Boehmer, H. J. Immun. 133, 117–1123 (1984).

    Google Scholar 

  21. von Boehmer, H. Immun. Today 7, 333–336 (1986).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Sarmiento, M., Glasebrook, A. L. & Fitch, F. W. J. Immun. 125, 2665–2672 (1980).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Goldschneider, I., Komschlies, K. L. & Greiner, D. L. J. exp. Med. 163, 1–17 (1986).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Bernstein, I. D., Tam, M. R. & Nowinski, R. C. Science 207, 68–71 (1980).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Marshak-Rothstein, A. et al. J. Immun. 122, 2491–2497 (1979).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Dennert, F., Hyman, R., Lesley, J. & Trowbridge, I. S. Cell. Immun. 53, 350–364 (1980).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Dialynas, D. P. et al. J. Immun. 131, 2445–2451 (1983).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Immunology, Research Institute of Scripps Clinic, 10666 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California, 92037, USA

    R. P. Shimonkevitz, L. A. Husmann, M. J. Bevan & I. N. Crispe

Authors
  1. R. P. Shimonkevitz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  2. L. A. Husmann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. J. Bevan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  4. I. N. Crispe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Shimonkevitz, R., Husmann, L., Bevan, M. et al. Transient expression of IL-2 receptor precedes the differentiation of immature thymocytes. Nature 329, 157–159 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1038/329157a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/329157a0

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing