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Interleukin-2 receptor α chain regulates the size and content of the peripheral lymphoid compartment

1995; Cell Press; Volume: 3; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/1074-7613(95)90180-9

1097-4180

Dennis M. Willerford, Jianzhu Chen, Judith A. Ferry, Laurie A. Davidson, Averil Ma, Frederick W. Alt,

IL-33, ST2, and ILC Pathways

Interleukin-2 receptor alpha chain (IL-2R alpha) expression occurs at specific stages of early T and B lymphocyte development and is induced upon activation of mature lymphocytes. Young mice that lack IL-2R alpha have phenotypically normal development of T and B cells. However, as adults, these mice develop massive enlargement of peripheral lymphoid organs associated with polyclonal T and B cell expansion, which, for T cells, is correlated with impaired activation-induced cell death in vivo. Older IL-2R alpha-deficient mice also develop autoimmune disorders, including hemolytic anemia and inflammatory bowel disease. Thus, IL-2R alpha is essential for regulation of both the size and content of the peripheral lymphoid compartment, probably by influencing the balance between clonal expansion and cell death following lymphocyte activation.