Role of CD2 and IL 1β in T cell responsiveness to IL 2

We have evaluated the effects of an anti-CD2 monoclonal antibody (moAb), Leu-5b, on inhibition of lymphocyte responsiveness. Given previous reports that anti-CD2 moAb prevent production of interleukin 2 (IL 2), as well as up-regulation of IL 2 receptor, we chose a test system in which lymphocytes were activated by exogenously added recombinant IL 2 (rIL 2). Our studies thus allowed us to evaluate other possible mechanisms by which anti-CD2 moAb could act. We found that Leu-5b not only blocked the proliferative response of human peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) to IL 2, but also the development of cytotoxicity as assayed in lectin-dependent cytotoxicity (LDCC). Addition of recombinant interleukin 1β (rIL 1β) reconstituted the proliferative response in the presence of Leu-5b but did not allow development of cytotoxicity. Our findings are consistent with the concept that Leu-5b delivers a signal to IL 2-responsive cells that prevents their subsequent proliferation and development of cytotoxicity, but that only the former event, i.e., proliferation, is reconstituted by the addition of IL 1β.