IL-2 negatively regulates IL-7 receptor α chain expression in activated T lymphocytes

HH Xue, PE Kovanen… - Proceedings of the …, 2002 - National Acad Sciences
HH Xue, PE Kovanen, CA Pise-Masison, M Berg, MF Radovich, JN Brady, WJ Leonard
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2002National Acad Sciences
Interleukin (IL)-2 is a type I four-α-helical bundle cytokine that plays vital roles in antigen-
mediated proliferation of peripheral blood T cells and also is critical for activation-induced
cell death. We now demonstrate that IL-2 potently decreases expression of IL-7 receptor α
chain (IL-7Rα) mRNA and protein. The fact that IL-7Rα is a component of the receptors for
both IL-7 and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) suggests that IL-2 can negatively
regulate signals by each of these cytokines. Previously it was known that the IL-2 and IL-7 …
Interleukin (IL)-2 is a type I four-α-helical bundle cytokine that plays vital roles in antigen-mediated proliferation of peripheral blood T cells and also is critical for activation-induced cell death. We now demonstrate that IL-2 potently decreases expression of IL-7 receptor α chain (IL-7Rα) mRNA and protein. The fact that IL-7Rα is a component of the receptors for both IL-7 and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) suggests that IL-2 can negatively regulate signals by each of these cytokines. Previously it was known that the IL-2 and IL-7 receptors shared the common cytokine receptor γ chain, γc, which suggested a possible competition between these cytokines for a receptor component. Our findings now suggest a previously unknown type of cross-talk between IL-2 and IL-7 signaling by showing that IL-2 signaling can diminish IL-7Rα expression via a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt-dependent mechanism.
National Acad Sciences