INDUCTION OF MOUSE P55 INTERLEUKIN-2 RECEPTOR GENE-EXPRESSION BY IL-2 AND IL-4 AND CHARACTERIZATION OF ITS TRANSCRIPTION INITIATION SITES

Two murine T cell lines (C30.1 and Line 1) were used to study the expression of the p55 interleukin-2 receptor gene. C30.1 is an IL-2-dependent T cell line that can be stimulated for a short period of time by IL-4. Line 1 cells are propagated in IL-4 but they also proliferate in response to IL-2. In both cell lines stimulation by IL-2 leads to a strong induction of p55 IL-2 receptor mRNA while stimulation by IL-4 leads only to a very moderate increase in expression of this mRNA. The induction of p55 IL-2 receptor mRNA by IL-4 is comparable to that of beta-actin mRNA. These data confirm that IL-2 upregulates p55 IL-2 receptor gene expression while IL-4, which also activates T cells, does not lead to specific induction of this gene. We have also determined the transcription initiation sites utilized by the p55 IL-2 receptor gene in C30.1 and Line 1 cells. Seven sites were identified, one of which predominates. Resting cells, or cells stimulated with IL-2 or IL-4, display the same pattern of transcription site utilization.