Interaction of CD2 with its ligand, LFA-3, in human T cell proliferation

B. E. Bierer, J. Barbosa, S. Herrmann, S. J. Burakoff

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99 Scopus citations

Abstract

Recently, it has been demonstrated that lymphocyte function-associated Ag (LFA-3) is a natural ligand for CD2 and that this receptor-ligand interaction functions in cell-cell adhesion. In this report, we demonstrate that LFA-3 plays a role in T cell activation. L cells were transfected with human genomic DNA and sorted for expression of LFA-3. We demonstrate that LFA-3+ L cells, together with anti-CD3 mAb or with suboptimal doses of PHA, stimulate proliferation of human peripheral blood T cells. Furthermore, thymocyte proliferation was induced by LFA-3+ L cells and suboptimal doses of PHA. Proliferation was inhibited by mAb directed against either CD2 or LFA-3. Stimulation of thymocytes by the combination of PHA and LFA-3+ L cells resulted in the increased expression of the IL-2R, as well as of the surface Ag 4F2, transferrin receptor, and HLA-DR. These data support the conclusion that LFA-3 plays a role in CD2-dependent T cell activation. LFA-3 is widely distributed and is expressed on all APC and target cells. Thus, the ability of the CD2/LFA-3 interaction to costimulate with an anti-CD3 mAb suggests that the CD2/LFA-3 interaction may be involved not only in an Ag-independent alternate pathway of T cell activation but also in Ag-specific T cell activation.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3358-3363
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Immunology
Volume140
Issue number10
StatePublished - 1988
Externally publishedYes

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