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Development and function of T cells in mice rendered interleukin-2 deficient by gene targeting

Nature volume 352, pages 621–624 (1991)Cite this article

Abstract

INTERLEUKIN-2 (IL-2) is a lymphocytotropic hormone which is thought to have a key role in the immune response of mammalian cells. It is produced by a subpopulation of activated T-lymphocytes and acts in vitro as the principal auto- and paracrine T-cell growth factor (for reviews see refs 1–3). IL-2 is, however, not the sole T-cell growth factor4,5, nor does it act exclusively on T cells, also promoting growth of NK cells6 and differentiation of B cells7. A role for IL-2 in T-cell development has been postulated but remains controversial8–12. Here we test the requirement for IL-2 in vivo using IL-2-deficient mice generated by targeted recombination. We find that mice homozygous for the IL-2 gene mutation are normal with regard to thymocyte and peripheral T-cell subset composition, but that a dysregulation of the immune system is manifested by reduced polyclonal in vitro T-cell responses and by dramatic changes in the isotype levels of serum immunoglobulins.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Virology and Immunobiology, University of Würzburg, Versbacherstrasse 7, 8700, Würzburg, Germany

    Hubert Schorle, Thomas Holtschke, Thomas Hünig, Anneliese Schimpl & Ivan Horak

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  1. Hubert Schorle
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  2. Thomas Holtschke
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  5. Ivan Horak
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Schorle, H., Holtschke, T., Hünig, T. et al. Development and function of T cells in mice rendered interleukin-2 deficient by gene targeting. Nature 352, 621–624 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1038/352621a0

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