Biomaterial Database

The alpha chain of the IL-2 receptor determines the species specificity of high-affinity IL-2 binding. 1996

K D Liu, and W C Greene, and M A Goldsmith

Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco 94141, USA.

Interleukin 2 (IL-2) mediated signalling results from ligand binding and subsequent heterodimerization of IL-2r beta and gamma c. The high-affinity IL-2 receptor (IL-2r) is a heterotrimer comprised of the IL-2r alpha, IL-2r beta and gamma c subunits. Whereas human IL-2 effectively binds to either human or murine lymphocytes, murine IL-2 binds with markedly higher affinity to murine receptor complexes than to human complexes. Using cell lines stably expressing heterotrimeric IL-2r that vary in the species origin of individual subunits, we have demonstrated that IL-2r alpha is primarily responsible for the species specificity of IL-2 binding. Studies of ligand binding to the low affinity receptor demonstrated that IL-2r alpha displays a similar species preference to the heterotrimeric complex. Moreover, differences in ligand binding are reflected in differences in proliferation. A cell line expressing human IL-2r alpha and IL-2r beta along with murine gamma c vigorously proliferated only in response to human IL-2 at low doses, while both human and murine IL-2 stimulated proliferation of a cell line containing murine IL-2r alpha (as well as human IL-2r beta and murine gamma c). Therefore, IL-2r alpha is the chain primarily responsible for the species specificity of ligand binding.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007376	Interleukin-2	A soluble substance elaborated by antigen- or mitogen-stimulated T-LYMPHOCYTES which induces DNA synthesis in naive lymphocytes.	IL-2,Lymphocyte Mitogenic Factor,T-Cell Growth Factor,TCGF,IL2,Interleukin II,Interleukine 2,RU 49637,RU-49637,Ro-23-6019,Ro-236019,T-Cell Stimulating Factor,Thymocyte Stimulating Factor,Interleukin 2,Mitogenic Factor, Lymphocyte,RU49637,Ro 23 6019,Ro 236019,Ro236019,T Cell Growth Factor,T Cell Stimulating Factor
D008214	Lymphocytes	White blood cells formed in the body's lymphoid tissue. The nucleus is round or ovoid with coarse, irregularly clumped chromatin while the cytoplasm is typically pale blue with azurophilic (if any) granules. Most lymphocytes can be classified as either T or B (with subpopulations of each), or NATURAL KILLER CELLS.	Lymphoid Cells,Cell, Lymphoid,Cells, Lymphoid,Lymphocyte,Lymphoid Cell
D002460	Cell Line	Established cell cultures that have the potential to propagate indefinitely.	Cell Lines,Line, Cell,Lines, Cell
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000345	Affinity Labels	Analogs of those substrates or compounds which bind naturally at the active sites of proteins, enzymes, antibodies, steroids, or physiological receptors. These analogs form a stable covalent bond at the binding site, thereby acting as inhibitors of the proteins or steroids.	Affinity Labeling Reagents,Labeling Reagents, Affinity,Labels, Affinity,Reagents, Affinity Labeling
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001665	Binding Sites	The parts of a macromolecule that directly participate in its specific combination with another molecule.	Combining Site,Binding Site,Combining Sites,Site, Binding,Site, Combining,Sites, Binding,Sites, Combining
D013045	Species Specificity	The restriction of a characteristic behavior, anatomical structure or physical system, such as immune response; metabolic response, or gene or gene variant to the members of one species. It refers to that property which differentiates one species from another but it is also used for phylogenetic levels higher or lower than the species.	Species Specificities,Specificities, Species,Specificity, Species
D015375	Receptors, Interleukin-2	Receptors present on activated T-LYMPHOCYTES and B-LYMPHOCYTES that are specific for INTERLEUKIN-2 and play an important role in LYMPHOCYTE ACTIVATION. They are heterotrimeric proteins consisting of the INTERLEUKIN-2 RECEPTOR ALPHA SUBUNIT, the INTERLEUKIN-2 RECEPTOR BETA SUBUNIT, and the INTERLEUKIN RECEPTOR COMMON GAMMA-CHAIN.	IL-2 Receptors,Interleukin-2 Receptor,Interleukin-2 Receptors,Receptors, IL-2,Receptors, T-Cell Growth Factor,T-Cell Growth Factor Receptors,IL-2 Receptor,IL2 Receptor,IL2 Receptors,Interleukin 2 Receptor,Receptor, TCGF,T-Cell Growth Factor Receptor,TCGF Receptor,TCGF Receptors,IL 2 Receptor,IL 2 Receptors,Interleukin 2 Receptors,Receptor, IL-2,Receptor, IL2,Receptor, Interleukin 2,Receptor, Interleukin-2,Receptors, IL 2,Receptors, IL2,Receptors, Interleukin 2,Receptors, T Cell Growth Factor,Receptors, TCGF,T Cell Growth Factor Receptor,T Cell Growth Factor Receptors
D051379	Mice	The common name for the genus Mus.	Mice, House,Mus,Mus musculus,Mice, Laboratory,Mouse,Mouse, House,Mouse, Laboratory,Mouse, Swiss,Mus domesticus,Mus musculus domesticus,Swiss Mice,House Mice,House Mouse,Laboratory Mice,Laboratory Mouse,Mice, Swiss,Swiss Mouse,domesticus, Mus musculus