Interleukin-12 induces genes expression in interleukin-2 stimulated human T lymphocytes

IL-12 is a critical immunoregulatory cytokine that promotes cell-mediated i mmune responses by inducing the differentiation of Th1 cells. To better cla rify the molecular basis of IL-12 action, we compared the gene expression i n human T lymphocytes activated by IL-2 and IL-12. mRNAs from T lymphocytes activated by either IL-2 alone or IL-2 plus IL-12 were transcribed into cD NAs. A differential mRNA display was conducted. As a result, differential d isplay of five cDNA fragments was obtained. Sequence analysis suggests that they had high homology with recorded genes as found by a computer search a gainst GenBank. Two full genes of the five fragments were cloned, which act ivation-induced C-type lectin and glucose transporter-like protein. Interes tingly, these proteins were expressed in the T cells stimulated by IL-2 and IL-12, but not in the T cells stimulated by IL-2 alone. These results sugg est that C-type lectin and glucose transporter-like protein may play an imp ortant role in the T lymphocyte activation induced by IL-12.