Allergen-Specific Human T Cell Clones Produce lnterleukin-5 upon Stimulation with the Th1 Cytokine lnterleukin-2

Abstract

CD4+ T cell clones specific for Der f II (a major allergen of the house dust mite) were established from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of atopic patients. All of the T cell clones were classified as having the Th0 phenotype, since they produced both interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-4 upon stimulation. Some of the clones produced IL-5 upon antigenic stimulation. Human recombinant IL-2 induced these T cell clones to express IL-5 mRNA and produce IL-5 protein in a dose-dependent manner. IL-2 did not induce IL-4 production, indicating a discrete signal requirement for IL-4 versus IL-5 production by T cells. Moreover, IL-5 production induced by immobilized anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody was completely suppressed by the addition of anti-IL-2 monoclonal antibody, suggesting that IL-5 production, designated as a Th2-type immune response, is dependent on IL-2, a Th1 cytokine. IL-2 produced at the site of allergic inflammation may contribute to IL-5 production by T cells in vivo.

IL-2-Induced IL-13 Production by Allergen-Specific Human Helper T Cell Clones

“…IL-4 concentrations in the unstimulated, anti-CD3- and rIL-2-stimulated cultures were 9.2 ± 1.2, 519.3 ± 173.3, and 22.6 ± 6.0 pg/ml, respectively. Consistent with our previous report [7], IL-5 production was clearly induced by both TCR and IL-2 stimulation (fig. 1c), and the amounts of IL-5 produced by the two stimulations were equivalent (p > 0.05).…”

“…We have reported that IL-5 production is induced by rIL-2 in a dose-dependent, time-dependent manner [7]. As shown in figure 1a, all of the 17 Th clones produced significant amounts of IL-13 in response to rIL-2 (100 U/ml).…”

“…The amounts of IL-5 and IL-13 produced were highly correlated, suggesting that IL-5 and IL-13 synthesis by T cells are controlled under similar signal requirements. Besides the T cell receptor (TCR) signal, the IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) signal upregulates cytokine expression including interferon-γ and IL-5 [5,6,7], although IL-2 was originally described as T cell growth factor. In the present study, we investigated IL-13 production by allergen-specific human T helper cells (Th) stimulated through either IL-2R or TCR.…”

Specific T cell lines for ovalbumin, ovomucoid, lysozyme and two OA synthetic epitopes, generated from egg allergic patients' PBMC

“…It is possible that PHA stimulation of T cells requires a specific co-stimulatory signal for IL-5 production, since normal PBMC produced IL-5 after stimulation with PHA + PMA [38]. Recently it was reported that production of IL-5 was closely related to IL-2 production [39].…”

Concepts of the Pathogenesis of Allergic Disease: Possible Roles of Epstein–Barr Virus Infection and Interleukin–2 Production

“…We have recently reported that human helper T cell clones produce IL–5 in response to IL–2 as well as to antigenic stimulation [69]. All of the Der f II (a major allergen of house dust mite)–specific T cell clones established from atopic asthmatic patients produced both IL–2 and IL–4 upon activation (Th0 phenotypes).…”