The monocyte interleukin-2 receptor light chain: production of cell-associated and soluble interleukin-2 receptor by monocytes.

Stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) initiated monocytes to produce interleukin-2 receptor light chain (p55 IL-2R). After stimulation with LPS for 48 hr, considerable quantities of soluble IL-2R were found in the supernatants of monocytes, exceeding even the amount of soluble IL-2R produced by activated T lymphocytes. Cell-associated p55 IL-2R was also increased during the first 24 hr of stimulation, after which time it remained constant. Fractionation of cells and analysis of cytoplasm, mitochondria, plasma membranes and nuclei for the presence of p55 IL-2R revealed that the main portion of receptor was present in the cytoplasm. This led to the conclusion that in monocytes cell-associated p55 IL-2R is not necessarily attached to membranes but is present in a soluble form in the cytoplasm, presumably freshly produced with the aim of being secreted. Stimulation of monocytes with pure recombinant interferon-gamma did not lead to augmentation of p55 IL-2R, as shown by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, binding of antibodies directed against the receptor (anti-Tac, CD25) and analysis of p55 IL-2R gene expression.