Novel receptor-mediated internalization of interleukin 2 in B cells

Novel IL-2-binding molecules (p70 and p75) mediating internalization and degradation of IL-2 were examined by employing a human B lymphoblastoid line, SKW6-4 cells. High concentrations of IL-2 induced IgM secretion in these cells through a receptor distinct from Tac antigen. The acid-wash technique revealed that more than 60% of 125I-labeled IL-2 bound to the cells became acid-unremovable in the first 30 min of incubation at 37 degrees C and degradation products of 125I-IL-2 increased after 30 min of incubation. Treatment of the cells with NaN3 buffer inhibited the appearance of acid-unremovable 125I-IL-2, suggesting that acid-unremovable 125I-IL-2 was not due to fluid-phase pinocytosis but due to internalization. Loss of labeled bands by incubation of cells with 125I-IL-2 at 37 degrees C before affinity cross-linking demonstrated that 125I-IL-2 was internalized via novel IL-2-binding molecules. These results suggest that novel IL-2-binding molecules are responsible for internalization and may mediate signal transduction in B cells in the absence of Tac antigen.