Phorbol ester induces expression and function of interleukin-2 receptors on
a human leukemic cell line with a T-cell precursor phenotype
UR Kees
Leukaemia Research Laboratory, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children,
Perth, Australia.
We show here that a human leukemic cell line, PER-117, bearing the markers
of a T-cell precursor phenotype, can be induced to express receptors for
interleukin-2 (IL-2). These IL-2 receptors could be demonstrated to mediate
a physiologic response to the lymphokine for which the high-affinity form
of the IL-2 receptor appears to be essential. The phenotype of PER-117
cells corresponds to the earliest identifiable stage of T-cell
differentiation, which is defined by the lack of the T3-T-cell receptor
complex and the presence of the 40 Kd protein recognized by monoclonal
antibodies of the CD7 group. Further evidence for the clonality and T-cell
lineage of this cell line was obtained by analysis of rearrangements of
genes for the T-cell receptor (TCR) beta chain and for the immunoglobulin
heavy-chain (IgJH) genes. PER-117 cells could be shown to have rearranged
TCR beta genes but no rearrangement of the IgJH genes. Cell line PER-117
provides a model to investigate the requirements for induction of IL-2
receptors in a cell expressing the first T-cell-specific marker and may
help to elucidate the role of IL-2 during thymic differentiation and in the
uncontrolled proliferation of T-cell leukemias.
Volume 72,
Issue 5,
pp. 1524-1529,
11/01/1988
Copyright © 1988 by The American Society of Hematology
