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Updated: Aug 8, 2026

Expansion of Human Peripheral Blood γδ T Cells using Zoledronate
Published on: September 9, 2011
Interferon-gamma receptor beta-chain expression and formation of alpha- and beta-chain complexes after receptor
C Ishiharu1, K Ochiai, M Kagami
1Department of Pediatrics, Sakura Hospital, Toho University School of Medicine, Sakura, Japan.
Background:
It has been unclear whether or not the interferon-gamma receptor (IFN-gammaR) on human peripheral eosinophils is completely functional. Accordingly, we examined the expression of IFN-gammaR alpha- and beta-chains and the association of the two chains after binding of IFN-gamma to the receptor.
Methods:
Peripheral blood eosinophils were obtained from 8 patients (bronchial asthma, n=6, and hypereosinophilic syndrome, n=2), and expression of the alpha- and beta-chain was investigated by flow cytometry with specific antibodies. Expression of mRNA for the alpha- and beta-subunits was also investigated by the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction.
Results:
Eosinophils from all the patients were positive for both the alpha- and beta-chains by flow cytometry. In addition, mRNA for both chains was detected by the polymerase chain reaction. Furthermore, coprecipitation of the alpha- and beta-chains was only found after eosinophil stimulation with IFN-gamma.
Conclusions:
Human peripheral eosinophils apparently express both the alpha- and beta-chains of the IFN-gammaR, and the two chains may only form the receptor complex after ligand binding.
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