Effects of Immunoregulatory Cytokines (IL-2, IL-7, and IL-15) on Expression of Gfi1 and U2afll4 Genes in T Cells at Different Stages of Differentiation

Abstract

Opposite effects of common γ-chain cytokines (IL-2, IL-7, and IL-15) on the expression of Gfi1 and U2af1l4 genes regulating alternative splicing of Ptprc gene in T cells at different stages of differentiation were demonstrated in vitro. Generally, produced a dose-dependent activating effect on T cells, while to the effects of rIL-7 and rIL-15 on T cells at different stages of differentiation were opposite to that of rIL-2: maximum concentrations of recombinant cytokines IL-7 and IL-15 produced the most pronounced inhibitory effect on U2af1l4 and to a lesser extent on Gfi1 gene expression, thus limiting activation of resting cells. This is consistent with their biological effects on T cells. In general, common γ-chain cytokines IL-2, IL-7, and IL-15 prevent differentiation of naïve T cells in vitro and limit activation of primed T cells in the absence of antigenic stimulus, which can contribute to the formation of cytokine imbalance.