Activated human B cells display a functional IL 2 receptor.

These studies deal with the expression of a functional IL 2 receptor on activated primary human B cells. Antibody against the receptor (alpha-TAC) reacted with 25 to 65% activated B cells, inhibited B cell proliferation by 50% and inhibited B cell secretion of Ig by greater than 90%. These effects were shown to be independent of contaminating T lymphocytes. Anti-TAC immunoprecipitated a molecule of identical size (65,000 daltons) from T and B lymphocytes; B cells were also shown to actively synthesize the IL 2 receptor. The chymotryptic peptide chromatograms of TAC antigen from T and B cells show these molecules to be indistinguishable.