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Updated: Aug 8, 2026
Assessment of the Synaptic Interface of Primary Human T Cells from Peripheral Blood and Lymphoid Tissue
Published on: July 30, 2018
IL-2 receptor expression and function on human cord blood mononuclear cells following PHA and anti-CD3 antibody
Insights
Human umbilical cord blood cells show higher levels of interleukin-2 receptors (IL-2R) compared to adult cells, particularly after phytohemagglutinin stimulation. This suggests distinct immune responses in newborns, impacting T-cell activation pathways.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Neonatal Research
Background:
- Interleukin-2 receptors (IL-2R) are crucial for T-cell proliferation and function.
- Understanding IL-2R expression in neonatal immune cells is vital for assessing immune competence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare IL-2R expression and function on human umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells versus adult mononuclear cells.
- To investigate the impact of different activation stimuli (PHA and anti-CD3) on IL-2R in cord blood cells.
- To assess IL-2R expression in premature infants.
Main Methods:
- Mononuclear cells from cord blood and adult blood were isolated.
- Cells were stimulated with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and anti-CD3 antibody.
- Interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) expression and binding were quantified using IL-2 binding assays.
- Internalization and degradation of IL-2 were measured.
- IL-2R expression was analyzed in premature infants.
Main Results:
- Cord blood mononuclear cells exhibited significantly higher levels of both high-affinity IL-2R (H-IL-2R) and low-affinity IL-2R (L-IL-2R) after PHA stimulation compared to adult cells.
- L-IL-2R levels were also elevated in cord blood cells after anti-CD3 stimulation, but H-IL-2R levels did not differ.
- Internalization of IL-2 was twice as high in PHA-stimulated cord blood cells.
- Premature infants showed reduced H-IL-2R expression after anti-CD3 stimulation, indicating immaturity.
Conclusions:
- Neonatal immune cells possess distinct IL-2R expression profiles compared to adults.
- The T-cell activation system in premature infants appears less mature via the CD3 pathway.
- These findings have implications for understanding neonatal immune responses and susceptibility to infections.
Abstract:
Interleukin-2 receptors (IL-2R) on mononuclear cells from human umbilical cord blood were investigated after stimulation by phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and anti-CD3 antibody. The proportion of cells expressing the Tac antigen (IL-2R alpha, p55) did not differ from that for adult mononuclear cells. However, the levels of high affinity IL-2R (H-IL-2R) and low affinity IL-2R (L-IL-2R) present on the PHA blasts of cord blood cells were shown to be twice and three times, respectively, that of adults by interleukin-2 (IL-2) binding assay. The level of low affinity IL-2R in the cord blood cells was approximately double that of adult cells after activation by anti-CD3 antibody, but no difference was observed in the levels of high affinity IL-2R. Functional investigation of IL-2R revealed that the amount of internalized IL-2 in PHA-stimulated cord blood mononuclear cells was twice that in adult mononuclear cells but there were no differences between them in the time course of internalization and degradation. Although there were significant numbers of H-IL-2R in premature (25 and 28 weeks) infants following PHA stimulation, there were markedly fewer following anti-CD3 stimulation. Prematurity of the T-cell activation system through the CD3 pathway at this stage is therefore indicated.
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