Abstract
The regulated elimination of T cells serves to maintain normal immune function and prevents autoimmune responses. IL-2 family cytokines play an important role in controlling the survival of immature and mature T cells. These molecules activate the protein kinase, AKT/PKB. AKT has been shown to transduce an antiapoptotic signal in numerous cell types. In this study, we show that an active form of AKT can protect T cells from apoptosis following growth factor withdrawal and that IL-2 family cytokines can promote T cell survival by activating this kinase. We also provide evidence that AKT does not block death receptor-mediated killing of lymphocytes. These data suggest that AKT may serve as a common signaling element by which members of the IL-2 family of cytokines promote T cell survival.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Antigens / pharmacology
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Apoptosis / immunology
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B-Lymphocytes / cytology
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B-Lymphocytes / enzymology
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B-Lymphocytes / immunology
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CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / cytology*
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CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / enzymology*
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CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
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Cell Survival / immunology
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Cells, Cultured
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Cytokines / physiology
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Enzyme Activation / immunology
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Interleukin-2 / physiology*
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred BALB C
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Mice, Knockout
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Mice, Transgenic
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Muramidase / immunology
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Ovalbumin / immunology
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Peptide Fragments / immunology
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Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases*
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism*
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins / physiology
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / biosynthesis
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fas Receptor / physiology
Substances
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Antigens
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Cytokines
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Interleukin-2
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OVA 323-339
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Peptide Fragments
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
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fas Receptor
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Ovalbumin
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Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
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hen egg lysozyme
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Muramidase