Stimulation of human T-cell proliferation by specific activation of the 75-kDa tumor necrosis factor receptor

TNF-alpha can enhance the proliferation of human thymocytes stimulated by the comitogen Con A. To determine which of the two different TNF receptors is responsible for signaling this cellular response, we investigated the proliferation of human thymocytes in response to agonistic antibodies specific for the two TNF receptor types. In contrast to previously examined TNF activities in human cells, thymocyte proliferation was stimulated in response to rabbit polyclonal antibodies directed against the 75-kDa TNF receptor (TNF-R2), but not those directed against the 55-kDa TNF receptor (TNF-R1). Lymphotoxin (TNF-beta) was also shown to stimulate human thymocyte proliferation, demonstrating that TNF-beta can initiate a biologic response that is mediated by TNF-R2. TNF-R2-mediated T-cell proliferation was not restricted to the immature T cells within the thymus, as the anti-TNF-R2 antibodies also stimulated the proliferation of peripheral T cells. As a first step toward identifying a specific agonist of TNF-R2 with therapeutic potential, 10 anti-TNF-R2 mAb were examined for potential agonist activity. Nine of these significantly stimulated human thymocyte proliferation with maximal responses ranging from twofold to significantly greater than that obtained with TNF-alpha by itself.