In vivo function of an interleukin 2 receptor β chain (IL-2Rβ)/IL-4Rα cytokine receptor chimera potentiates allergic airway disease

J Youn, J Chen, S Goenka, MA Aronica… - The Journal of …, 1998 - rupress.org
J Youn, J Chen, S Goenka, MA Aronica, AL Mora, V Correa, JR Sheller, M Boothby
The Journal of Experimental Medicine, 1998rupress.org
Strength of T cell receptor (TCR) signaling, coreceptors, costimulation, antigen-presenting
cell type, and cytokines all play crucial roles in determining the efficiency with which type 2 T
lymphocytes (Th2, Tc2) develop from uncommitted precursors. To investigate in vivo
regulatory mechanisms that control the population of type 2 T cells and disease
susceptibility, we have created lines of transgenic mice in which expression of a chimeric
cytokine receptor (the mouse interleukin 2 receptor β chain [IL-2Rβ] extracellular domain …
Strength of T cell receptor (TCR) signaling, coreceptors, costimulation, antigen-presenting cell type, and cytokines all play crucial roles in determining the efficiency with which type 2 T lymphocytes (Th2, Tc2) develop from uncommitted precursors. To investigate in vivo regulatory mechanisms that control the population of type 2 T cells and disease susceptibility, we have created lines of transgenic mice in which expression of a chimeric cytokine receptor (the mouse interleukin 2 receptor β chain [IL-2Rβ] extracellular domain fused to the cytoplasmic tail of IL-4Rα) is targeted to the T lymphoid lineage using the proximal lck promoter. This chimera transduced IL-4–specific signals in response to IL-2 binding and dramatically enhanced type 2 responses (IL-4, IL-5, and immunoglobulin E production) upon in vitro TCR stimulation or in vivo antigen challenge. Thus, type 2 effector function was augmented by IL-4 signals transduced through a chimeric receptor expressed in a T cell–specific manner. This influence was sufficient for establishment of antigen-induced allergic airway hyperresponsiveness on a disease-resistant background (C57BL/6).
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