IL-2 dependence of IL-9 expression in human T lymphocytes

Human IL-9 is a T cell-derived lymphokine that is abundantly expressed upon activation with mitogens. The observation that IL-9 induction peaks as late as 28 h after stimulation suggested the involvement of secondary signals in this process. The finding reported here that IL-9 expression is blocked by cycloheximide strongly supports this hypothesis. Moreover, we identify IL-2 as the critical element controlling IL-9 expression in T cells. We show (i) that anti-IL-2R antibodies block IL-9 expression in T cells stimulated with PMA and anti-CD3 and (ii) that IL-2, of a panel of cytokines, is the only molecule that synergizes with PMA for IL-9 induction. The latter finding is confirmed in a T cell leukemia line. Finally, we demonstrate that IL-2 plays a regulatory role in the induction of other cytokines, such as IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, and granulocyte/macrophage-CSF, in fresh peripheral T cells.