Expressions and functional roles of novel IL-2 binding molecules (p70, 75) in the differentiation of B cells into Ig secreting cells were explored by using human several B cell lines and tonsillar B cells. Affinity-crosslinking studies revealed that five of nine B cell lines expressed p70 and p75 without detectable Tac antigen (p55) expression and the expression was associated with B cell maturation. In tonsillar B cells, small high-density B cells did not express p70 and p75, whereas large low-density B cells, which were thought to be activated in vivo, expressed them. Binding assays of radiolabeled IL-2 showed that the affinity of these molecules was intermediate (kD = 1-3 nM, 700-3,000 sites/cell). Furthermore, high concentrations of IL-2 (greater than 100 U/ml) induced Ig productions in large B cells and two of five cell lines. These results taken together suggest that B cells may express novel IL-2 binding molecules, associated with B cell differentiation and differentiate into Ig secreting cells by IL-2 through novel IL-2 binding molecules.
T Tanaka, O Saiki, S Doi, M Suemura, S Negoro, S Kishimoto
The Editorial Board will only consider comments that are deemed relevant and of interest to readers. The Journal will not post data that have not been subjected to peer review; or a comment that is essentially a reiteration of another comment.