Evidence that the level of the p55 component of the interleukin (IL) 2 receptor can control IL 2 responsiveness in a murine IL 3-dependent cell

Although the role of interleukin 2 (IL 2) in mature T lymphocyte function is well documented, its effect on hematopoietic progenitor cells is less well characterized. Here we have used recombinant retroviruses to transduce and express a cDNA clone encoding the p55 component of the human IL 2 receptor (h-p55), in a murine IL 3-dependent cell line, BAF3. While the parental cells do not respond to IL 2, the h-p55-expressing cells proliferate upon treatment with recombinant IL 2 after an initial lag period. The responsiveness of individual cell clones is correlated with their level of h-p55 expression, and can be inhibited by Tac monoclonal antibody. Furthermore, growth at limiting IL 2 concentrations selects a subset of cells expressing higher h-p55 levels from a bulk population. Detailed 125I-labeled IL 2 binding analysis on the highest h-p55-expressing clone detects the presence of 200 high-affinity (KD = 25 pM) IL 2 receptors. We therefore propose that the level of h-p55 expression governs the formation of high-affinity receptors, and hence IL 2 responsiveness in BAF3 cells.