Interferon-alpha inhibits Stat5 DNA-binding in IL-2 stimulated primary T-lymphocytes Sven Erickson 1, *, Sampsa Matikainen 2, *, Lena Thyrell 1 , Olle Sangfelt 1 , Ilkka Julkunen 2 , Stefan Einhorn 1 and Dan Grande  r 1 1 Department of Oncology and Pathology, Cancer Centre Karolinska (CCK), Karolinska Hospital and Institute, Stockholm, Sweden; 2 Department of Virology, Mannerheimintie 166, Helsinki, Finland It has previously been shown that IFN-a is a potent inhibitor of IL-2 indu ced proliferation in p rimary T-lymphocytes, by selectively a brogating t he downstream eects of IL-2 on the core cell cycle machinery regulating the G1/S transition. Theoretically this could be mediated through cross-talk between the signalling cascades activated by these cytokines, as several signalling components are known to be shared. IL-2 activates multiple signalling pathways that are impor- tant for T-cell proliferation and dierentiation. In the pre- sent study, the eects of IFN-a on IL-2 signal transduction was investigated. The IFN-a induced inhibition of IL-2 induced proliferation in activated T-lymphocytes, was associated with a suppressed Jak3 protein expression as well as an inhibited prolonged Stat5 DNA binding, and a par- tially reduced expression of the Stat5 inducible gene IL-2Ra. Our results provide a possible molecular link between the prominent antiproliferative eects of IFN-a on IL-2 induced T-cell proliferation and the signal transduction pathways emerging from the IL-2 receptor. Keywords: interferon-alpha, T-lymphocytes; Stat5; inter- leukin-2; proliferation. Interferons (IFNs) constitute a family of proteins ®rst isolated because of their antiviral abilities [1]. Today, IFNs are known to be therapeutically effective in t he treatment of a number of malignancies [2], viral diseases, as well as in immunorelated disor ders such a s multiple s clerosis. IFNs mechanism o f a ction i n t hese diseases is unclear, but its well known ability to inhibit proliferation has been suggested to be of major importance. The antiproliferative effect of IFN-a in malignant cell lines has recently been linked to potent effects on the basic cell cycle machinery [3±5]. The investigated cell lines are commonly arrested by IFN in the G1 phase of the cell cycle, an effect that is coinciding with the up-regulation of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (CKIs), such as p15, p21 and p27 [4,5]. We have recently shown that IFN-a also inhibits interleukin-2 (IL-2) induced proliferation in nontransformed human peripheral T-lym- phocytes, by inhibiting the activation of key cell cycle molecules [6]. This ®nding has prompted us to investigate whether this effect may relate to interactions with the signalling from the IL-2 receptor. The lymphocyte-derived cytokine IL-2 plays a pivotal role in the regulation of immune responses, and is a major regulator of T-lymphocyte proliferation [7,8]. IL-2 signalling is mediated by a multimeric receptor (IL-2R), consisting of two obligate signalling subunits, IL-2Rb and c c and the variably expressed IL-2Ra subunit, which regulates the af®nity for IL-2 [8]. The IL-2 receptor exhibits no intrinsic kinase activity but rather relies on the association of intracellular protein kinases for signalling. Ligation of IL-2 to the receptor triggers several signal transduction path- ways, including the Jak-Stat pathway as well as alternative pathways leading to the activation of molecules such as c-myc, and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PtdIns3K) [7,8]. Heterodimerization of the IL-2Rb and c c chains results in the rapid activation of several protein tyrosine kinases including J ak1, Jak3 and Syk. Syk activation has been suggested to be of importance for the up-regulation of c-myc, thereby being crucial f or the proliferative response t o IL-2 [7,9]. Jak1, however, seems dispensable f or IL-2 induced proliferation [10], whereas in contrast, Jak3 activa- tion seem to be essential for IL-2 dependent mitogenic signalling. This conclusion is supported by a number of manipulative studies. For example, ®broblasts expressing a reconstituted IL-2R complex will fail to proliferate in the presence of IL-2 unless Jak3 is coexpressed [11], and furthermore, an inactive form of Jak3 severely inhibits IL-2 mediated proliferation in BAF3 cells [12]. Receptor associ- ated Jak3 will phosphorylate speci®c residues in the cytoplasmatic domains of the IL-2Rb. These phosphotyro- sine motifs serve a s docking sites for the SH2 domain i n Stat5, a member of the Stat family of transcription factors. Upon binding to the receptor complex, Stat5 will become phosphorylated, dimerize and translocate into the nucleus inducing transcription of its target genes [8]. Stat5 exists in two different forms, Stat5a a nd Stat5b, encoded by separate genes. The two genes are highly Correspondence to D. Grande  r, Department of Oncology and Pathology, Cancer Centre Karolinska (CCK), Karolinska Hospital and Institute, S-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden. Fax: + 46 8 339031, Tel.: + 46 8 51776262, E-mail: dan.grander@cck.ki.se Abbreviations: I FN, interferon; CKI, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibi- tor; IL, interleukin; IL-2R, interleukin-2 receptor; PtdIns3K, phos- phatidylinositol-3-kinase; Jak, Janus kinase; Stat, signal transduction activator of transcription; EMSA, electrophoretic mobility shift assay; GAS, gamma activation site; MEK, mitogen-activated/extra-cellular regulated kinase; ERK, extracellular regulated kinase; Cdk, cyclin dependent kinase; SOCS, suppressor of cytokine signalling. *Note: the authors contributed equally to this manuscript. (Received 17 August 2001, revised 18 October 2001, accepted 19 October 2001) Eur. J. Biochem. 269, 29±37 (2002) Ó FEBS 2002 homologous but differ in the C-terminus region [13]. Stat5 is expressed in a variety of tissues and its biological effects are still incompletely understood. Mice with homozygous inactivation of the Stat5a gene exhibit a failure in postpar- tum mammary gland differentiation and lactation, demon- strating that Stat5 i s r equired for mammopoesis and lactation. The hematopoietic system is not severely affected in Stat5a±/±,Stat5b±/± or Stat5a±/± Stat5b±/± double knockout mice [14]. Although Stat5 is apparently not required for hematopoiesis, it is however, of crucial importance for the p roliferative response t o IL-2, as thymocytes fr om Stat5 double knockout m ice fail to proliferate in response to IL-2 [14,15]. We have recently demonstrated that IFN-a is a potent inhibitor of IL-2 induced proliferation in PHA stimulated human peripheral T-lymphocytes [16] where IFN-a abro- gated the activation of the basic cell cycle machinery as well as the inhibited the down-regulation of the CKI p27 [16]. The effect on IL-2 signalling was however, selective, as IFN- a did not inhibit the IL-2 dependent up-regulation o f c-myc or Cdc25A. In o rder to obtain a better understanding whether these previously observed e ffects m ay be due to cross-talk with the more upstream IL-2 signalling, we have here investigated how IFN-a affects t he activation of IL-2R associated molecules, and subsequent activation o f IL-2 respon sive genes. MATERIALS AND METHODS T-Lymphocyte isolation and cell culture Buffy coats from healthy blood donors were heparinized, mononuclear cells isolated by Lymphoprep gradient cen- trifugation (Nycomed, Oslo, Norway), and T-lymphocytes isolated using nylon wool columns, as previously described [17]. In each experiment performed, > 95% of the cells were viable, as d etermined by t rypan blue exclusion. The enriched human T-lymphocytes wer e tested for purity before stimulation as previously described [17] and were found to be more then 94% pure. The lymphocytes were seeded at a density of 5 ´ 10 5 cells per ml in complete MEM (MEM supplemented with 10% heat inactivated AB + serum, 2 m M glutamine 50 mgámL )1 of streptomycin and 50 mgámL )1 of penicillin) and kept in a humid incubator w ith 5% CO 2 . The cells were counted and reseeded every second day (5 ´ 10 5 cells per mL) when fresh medium was added. The resting T-lymphocytes were stimulated to proliferation i n a two-stage process by the sequential addition of 0.8 lgámL )1 PHA (Sigma Chemical Co.) for 72 h and, subsequently IL-2 at a concentration of 100 UámL )1 [17,18]. Restimulation was performed e very second day by inclusion of IL-2 (100 UámL )1 )inthefresh medium added to the cells. I n cultures receiving IFN -a (5000 UámL )1 ), it was added to the cultures alone or together with IL-2. Each experiment was repeated with cells from two to seven different donors. All ®gures s how the results from representative experiments. Cytokines and antibodies Recombinant IFN-a2b (from Schering-Plough, Kenil- worth, NJ, USA) was used in the d ifferent experiments. Recombinant IL-2 was a generous gift form A. O È sterborg (Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden). The following antibodies were used for Western blotting and immunopre- cipitation in this study. The phosphospeci®c polyclonal Akt antibodies (Ser473 and Thr308) and the polyclonal Akt antibody were from New England Biolabs, polyclonal J ak3 from Santa Cruz and monoclonal phosphotyrosine anti- bodies (4G10) from Upst ate Biotechnology (Lake Placid, NY, USA). Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) To prepare nuclear extracts, 10 ´ 10 6 cells were harvested by centrifugation, 600 g,for8minat4°C, and washed once in 1 .5 mL ice -cold NaCl/P i . Subsequently cells were resusp end ed i n 4 00 lL i ce-cold Buffer A (10 m M Hepes/ KOH pH 7.9, 1.5 m M MgCl 2 ,10m M KCl, 0.5 m M dith- iothreitol and Complete TM protease inhibitor cocktail according t o the manufacturers instructions (Boehringer Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany) b y ¯icking the tube. Cells were allowed to s well on ice for 10 min, and then vortexed for 10 s. Samples were centrifuged for 10 s, and the supernatant discarded. The pellets were resuspended in 100 lL ice-cold Buffer B (20 m M Hepes/KOH pH 7.9, 25% glycerol, 420 m M NaCl, 1.5 m M MgCl 2 ,0.2m M EDTA, and Complete TM protease inhibitor cocktail according the manufacturers instructions (Boehringer Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany) and incubated on ice for high-salt extraction. Cellular debris was removed by centrifugation for 2 min at 4 °C, the supernatant removed and saved at ) 70 °C. Protein concentration was determined spectrophotometrically with the Bradford method, accord- ing to instructions of the manufacturer (Bio-Rad). Nuclear protein/DNA binding reactions were performed as previ- ously described [19]. The following oligonucleotides were used: IFP 53 GAS (5¢-GATCAATCACCCAGATTCT CAGAAACACTT- 3¢), IRF-1 GAS (5¢-AGCTTCAG CCTGATTTCCCCGAAATGACGGA-3¢)andIL-2Ra GAS-c/GAS-n (5¢-TTTCTTCTAGGAAGTACCAAA CATTTCTGATAATAGAA-3¢). The probes were 32 P-labelled b y T4 polynucleotide kinase and the b inding reaction was performed at room temperature for 30 min. Samples were separated on 6% nondenaturating low-ionic strength polyacrylamide gels in 0.25 ´ Tris/borate/EDTA. Subsequently gels were dried and bands visualized by autoradiography. Antibodies used in supershift experiments were purchased from Santa Cruz B iotechnology. The following antibodies were used: anti-Stat1 (sc-245X), anti-Stat3 (sc-482X), anti-Stat4 ( sc-486X) a nd anti-Stat5 (sc-835). In supershift experiments, antibodies (1 : 20 dilu- tion) were incubated with the nuclear extracts for 1 h on ice. Western blot analysis Western blot a nalysis was performed essentially as previ- ously described [4]. Brie¯y, whole extracts were prepared by lysis through sonication in LSLD buffer containing protease inhibitors. The protein concentration was determined as described above. Seventy lg of protein was loaded in each well. Proteins were resolved by SDS/PAGE on 12% gels and electroblotted to poly(vinylidene di¯uoride) membranes (Boerhinger Mannheim GMbH, Germany) by semidry transfer. For protein detection, the ®lters were hybridized 30 S. Erickson et al. (Eur. J. Biochem. 269) Ó FEBS 2002 for 1 h with t he appropriate antibody. Antibody±antigen interaction was detected b y incubation with horseradish peroxidase-conjugated anti-(rabbit IgG)Ig or anti-(mouse IgG)Ig for one hour, and subsequent detection by enhanced chemiluminescence, ECL (Amhersham). Immunoprecipitation For immunoprecipitation whole protein extracts were prepared as described a bove. Lysates were p re cleared with protein A±Seph arose beads (Pharmacia Biotech AB, Uppsala, Sweden) with gentle agitation for at least 2 h at 4 °C. Precleared extracts representing 400 lgofwhole protein extract were incubated with polyclonal Jak3 anti- bodies for 2 h at 4 °C. Antibody associated complexes w ere then bound to prewashed protein A±Sepharose beads, washed four times i n LSLD buffer c ontaining protease inhibitors and denatured as previously described [5]. Precipitated proteins were resolved on an 8% SDS/PAGE, electroblotted and analysed by sequential immunoblotting with Jak3 and anti-phosphotyrosine Ig. Northern blot analysis Total cellular RNA was isolated using Trizol Reagent according to the instructions of the manufacturer ( Life Technologies), and the R NA concentration was measured spectrophotometricly. Twenty micrograms of total RNA from each sample was subjected to electrophoresis in a 1.2% agarose formaldehyde gel. Blotting was performed as described [4]. Northern ®lters (Hybond C-extra, Amersham) were hybridized with the cDNA probes encoding IL-2Ra and pim-1, and probes were labelled a s p reviously described [4]. EtBr staining of rRNA bands was used to ensure equal RNA loading. Quanti®cation of apoptosis using Annexin V staining Redistribution of plasma membrane phosphatidylserine is a marker of apoptosis and was assessed using Annexin V FLUOS and Propidium Iodide staining kit according to the manufacturer's protocol (Boehringer Mannheim, Mannheim Germany). Quantitation of band intensity For s canning of the ®lms a Luminescent image analyzer LAS-1000 plus (Fuji Film Co., Ltd) was used. Hybridiza- tion signals w ere quanti®ed by using I MAGE G AUGE Ver. 3.12 by Fuji Film Co., Ltd. RESULTS IFN-a inhibits IL-2 dependent up-regulation of Jak3, but not its transient phosphorylation Puri®ed primary T-lymphocytes from healthy donors, were treated with P HA for three days, a nd subsequently with IL-2 alone or IL-2 together with IFN for up to 72 h. Using the stimulation protocol described i n the materials and methods section, the initial PHA s timulation provides an activation signal, but alone, is clearly not suf®cient to induce proliferation in this setting, in agreement with previous data from Firpo et al. [18] and subsequent data from our own group [16]. Exogenous IL-2 addition allows for S-phase entry and activation the G1 Cdk complexes [16,18]. As described elsewhere, cotreatment with IFN- a abrogated the proliferative response to IL-2 a nd severely inhibited t he activation of the cell cycle machinery [16]. The effect of IFN- a on the proportion of apoptotic cells was also measured by ¯ow cytometry for DNA content and AnnexinV positivity. There were no signi®cant differences in the proportion of apoptotic cells in IL-2 treated or IFN-a plus IL-2 treated cells up to 48 h of culture as measured by sub-G1 content (data not shown) or Annexin V staining (Fig. 1). Recent studies have clearly demonstrated that Jak3 is required t o activate the IL-2R pathway for T-cell prolifer- ation. Jak3 is rapidly phosphorylated upon IL-2 stim ula- tion, an event essential for a proper p roliferative signal [8,20,21]. In order to investigate if IFN-a affects the IL-2 induced expression of Jak3, Western blotting was per- formed. IL-2 stimulation for 24 h (day 4) increased t he Jak3 expression signi®cantly from the low levels present in unstimulated cells, whereas prolonged stimulation did not lead to any further increase in Jak3 protein levels (Fig. 2A). IFN-a suppressed the IL-2 dependent Jak3 expression in cells treated for more than 24 h (Fig. 2A). Because low levels of Jak3 are present in the cells before IL-2 stimulation we analysed whether IFN a ffected the immediate Jak3 tyrosine phosphorylation upon IL-2 addi- tion. PHA treated T-lymphocytes were treated with I L-2 alone or together with IFN-a for 10 and 30 min, w hereafter Jak3 was immunoprecipitated and tyrosine phosphoryla- tion detected by Western blotting. In contrast to the abrogation of the IL-2 dependent up-regulation of Jak3, IFN-a did not inhibit the rapid tyrosine phosphorylation at any of the timepoints investigated (Fig. 2B). IFN-a effects on Stat5 DNA-binding Although the role of Stat5 in T-lymphocyte proliferation is still somewhat controversial, recent s tudies indicate that Stat5 is indeed required for a proper proliferative response to IL-2 [15]. T o characterize the effect of IFN-a in the onset of IL-2 signalling and Stat5 b inding, PHA activated cells were treated with IL-2 alone, IFN-a alone or IL-2 together with IFN-a. Nuclear extracts w ere prepared from these cells and analysed by EMSA, by using a labelled IFP-53 GAS Fig. 1. Eects of IFN-a on apoptosis as measured by annexin V and propidium iodide staining. PHA activated T-cells were treated with IL-2 alone or IL-2 together with IFN-a for 48 h. The percentage o f ap op- totic (annexin V positive) cells in th e samples is shown. Annexin V staining is represented on the x-axis and propidium iodide staining is representedonthey-axis. Ó FEBS 2002 Interferon-a inhibits Stat5 induced transcription (Eur. J. Biochem. 269)31 DNA-element that i s known to bind Stat5 with high af®nity [22]. EMSA a nalysis revealed that untreated and PHA treated T-cells contained no DNA binding activity to this element. Stimulation of the cells with exogenous IL-2 was repeatedly found to induce a biphasic IFP-53 GAS binding activity, with the appearance of two clear bandshifts already 0.5 h after stimulation (Fig. 3A). The shifts gradually decreased at 6±24 h, with a reappearance of the strong shift at 24±48 h (Fig. 3A). Co-treatment with IFN-a did not signi®cantly alter the initial wave of IFP-53 GAS binding activity, whereas it severely inhibited t he reappearance of bandshifts during the second wave of IL-2 induced binding at 24±48 h (Fig. 3A). Furthermore, IFN-a cotreatment also caused the appearance of a n ovel bandshift in-between the two IL-2 induced bands (Fig. 3A). The composition of the DNA-binding complexes from T-cells stimulated with IL-2 and/or IFN-a for 0.5 and 48 h, as analysed by supershifts with speci®c antibodies. The IL-2 induced complexes were intact following incubation with Stat1 antibodies, while antibodies recognizing both Stat5a and b shifted the entire complex ( Fig. 3B). Antibodies for Stat5a and S tat5b, respectively, partly shifted the complex (data not shown). In the IFN-a cotreated sample, the additional intermediate band was c ompletely shifted using antibodies recognizing Stat1. In other studies, Stat1 has sometimes been found to form a slightly faster moving complex than S tat5. T he reason for t his discrepancy is probably due to the f ormation of Stat5 complexes containing different Stat5 isoforms depending on celltype and type of stimulation [23,24]. Again, cotreatment with I FN-a for 48 h resulted in a signi®cantly decreased Stat5 bandshift as well as supershift. Thus, IFN-a clearly inhibited the binding of Stat5a/b to the IFP53 element at this timepoint. Total levels of Stat5 protein on the other hand, were not changed by cotreatment with IFN-a, as demonstrated by Western blotting for this protein (data not shown). Recently an IL-2 responsive element in the IL-2Ra promoter has been described. T his r egion c ontains a consensus and a nonconcensus GAS motif (GAS-c/GAS-n), which has been shown to be e ssential f or proper IL-2 induced IL-2Ra transcription [25]. IL-2 stimulated prolifer- ating T-lymphocytes have also recently been shown to contain S tat1, 3, 4 and 5 DNA binding activity to this GAS element upon costimulation with IFN-a [26]. T o further characterize the effect of IFN-a on the binding activity also to this element, further EMSAs were performed using this GAS motif (GAS-c/GAS-n) as a probe. IL-2 alone induced one major complex already a fter 0.5 h. IFN-a treated cells also expressed one single complex, albeit with a broader migration pattern, i mplicating the comigrat ion of t wo separate bandshifts. Co-treated cells also expressed both of these complexes 0.5 h after stimulation (Fig. 4A). At later timepoints ( 6 h and thereafter), c omplex formation was signi®cantly decreased in IL-2 treated and cotreated cells, and only the slowly migrating form was detectable. IFN-a treated cells alone co ntained n o c omplexes at these later timepoints (Fig. 4A). Furthermore, as observed using IFP- 53 GAS as a probe, IFN-a clearly i nhibited the complex formationcomparedtoIL-2treatedcellsaloneatthetwo latest timepoints (24 and 48 h). To ver ify the c omplex composition, supershifts with a set of different Stat anti- bodies were performed. In the I L-2 t reated cells Stat5 w as the only antibody generating a supershift shifting the majority of the complex (Fig. 4B). In the extracts from IL-2 /IFN-a cotreated cells, i ncubation with Stat1, Stat3, Stat4 an d Stat5 antibodies all resulted in supershifts (Fig. 4B), however, the Stat1 antibody generated the most prominent shift. In extracts fr om IFN-a treated cells alone Stat1 shifted the absolute majority of the complex, however, the complexes also contain ed very small amounts of Stat3 and 4 binding (Fig. 4B). Taken together these data c on®rm the ®nd in gs using the IFP53 GAS element, that is, IFN-a cotreatment inhibited the prolonged IL-2 dependent Stat5 DNA binding activity but not the immediate one. Furthermore, identical data on the effects of IFN- a on Stat5 a ctivity w ere a lso obtained using an IRF-1 GAS element (data not shown). Effects of IFN-a on Stat5-induced transcription IL-2 induced T-cell proliferation is associated with the induction of several IL-2 responsive genes such as IL-2Ra, pim-1 and c-myc . IL-2Ra and pim-1 expression have also been shown to b e regulated by Stat5 [26,27]. We have previously shown that the IL-2 dependent c-myc up-regulation in T-cells is not abrogated by cotreatment with IFN-a, but rather slightly enhanced [16]. To analyse whether the inhibitory effect of IFN-a on IL-2 induced Stat5 DNA binding correlated with an altered expressio n of Stat5 inducible genes, Northern blotting and hybridization using IL-2R-a and pim-1 as probes was performed. Untreated cells did not show IL-2Ra or pim-1 expression, Jak3 Jak3 W:Jak3 W:P-Tyr IFN-α MinutesB – 10 +– + 30 IFN-α HoursA – 0 + +–– 24 48 Fig. 2. Ee cts of IFN-a on IL-2 induced Jak3 protein expression and phosphorylation. (A)ImmunoblotanalysisofJak3expressionwas analysed in quiescent (day 0) or PHA activated T-cells treated w ith IL-2 or IL-2/IF N-a for 24 or 48 h. (B) PHA activated T-cells were treated with IL-2 alone or IL-2 together with IFN-a for 10 and 30 min Whole protein extracts were immunoprecipitated with polyclonal Jak3 antibodies followed by sequential immunob lotting with anti-phosp- hotyrosine and anti-Jak3 Ig. 32 S. Erickson et al. (Eur. J. Biochem. 269) Ó FEBS 2002 however, PHA treatment for 3 days induced expression of both these genes. IL-2 stimulation further incr eased the expression of both genes reaching a plateau between 6 and 24 h (Fig. 5). IFN-a did not inhibit the early IL-2 (2 and 6 h) induced expression and at these timepoints, IFN- a treated cells alone maintained some expression of both genes. T-cells stimulated with IL-2 for 24 and 48 h expressed continued high levels of IL-2R-a and pim-1.IFN-a cotreated cells exhibited partially reduced expression levels of IL-2R-a compared to IL-2 treated c ells alone (Fig. 5), with a 30±40% reduction at 24 h a nd around 20% reduction at 48 h, as measured by scanning densitometry. Stat 5 Stat 1 Stat 5 Antibody α–Stat1 α–Stat5 α–Stat5 α–Stat1 α–Stat5 α–Stat1 α–Stat5 α–Stat1 α–Stat5 α–Stat1 IFNα 0.5h IL-2/IFNα 0.5h IL-2 0.5h PHA 0 PHA 0 IL-2 48h IL-2/IFNα 48h B 0.50 PHA 6 24 48 Stat 5 Stat 1 Stat 5 Hours IL-2 IL-2/IFNα IFNα IL-2 IL-2/IFNα IFNα IL-2 IL-2/IFNα IFNα IL-2 IL-2/IFNα IFNα A Fig. 3. Stat5 b inding to the IF P-53 GAS element. (A) Nuclear extracts fro m qu iescent ( day 0) o r P HA activated T -cells treated w ith, IL -2 (0.5±48 h), IL-2/IFN-a (0.5±48 h) and IFN-a (0.5±48 h) treated T-cells were p repared and incubated with a 32 P-labelled IFP-53 GAS element. DNA binding activity was analysed by EMSA. (B) Nuclear extracts from q uiescent (day 0), PHA ( day3), IL-2 (0.5 a nd 48 h), IL-2/IFN-a (0 .5 and 48 h) and IFN- a (0.5 h) treated T-cells were prepared and incubated for one hour with Stat1 and Stat5 antibodies, f ollowed by binding to a 32 P-labelled IFP-53 GAS element. DNA binding a ctivity was analysed by EMSA. Ó FEBS 2002 Interferon-a inhibits Stat5 induced transcription (Eur. J. Biochem. 269)33 The effects of IFN-a on pim-1 expression on the o ther hand were minor. IFN-a treated cells alone did not express either of th e g enes after 24 h of treatment. The effects of cotreatment with IFN-a on IL-2 induced Stat5 DNA- binding activity thus partially seem to translate into effects on Stat5 dependent transcription of the IL-2Ra gene. Effects of IFN-a on the PtdIns3K pathway Recently, the PtdIns3K pathway has been linked to the activation of the basic cell cycle machinery in primary T-lymphocytes [28]. IL-2 indu ced activation of this pathway leads to down-regulation of the CKI p27, an d up-regulation of D-type cyclins as well as activation of E2F driven transcription. Furthermore, IL-2 induced PtdIns3K activa- tion involves phosphorylation of Akt (protein kinase B). In order to ®nd out whether IFN-a inhibits the activation o f the PtdIns3K pathway, Akt phosphorylation in IL-2 stimulated T-cells was analysed by immunoblotting. Anti- bodies recognizing serine 473 phosphorylated Akt revealed that unstimulated T-cells expressed detectable levels of phosphorylated Akt. IL-2 stimulation only s lightly increased the exp ression and I FN-a did not inhibit t he phosphorylation at any timepoint (d ata not shown). Anti- bodies recognizing threonine 308 phosphorylated Akt gave an identical result (data not shown). DISCUSSION Induction of proliferation in human primary T-lymphocytes depends on cytokine stimulation both in vivo and in vitro, and IL-2 is a central molecule in this response. However, also IL-4, IL-7, and IL-15 all promote T-cell proliferation in a m anner similar to IL-2 [8]. These cytokines share the ccin the receptors as well as intracellular s ignalling molecules such as the Jak and S tat molecules. Type I interferons signal through a similar set of Jak/Stat molecules but with completely different cellular effects. IFN-a is a well-estab- lished antiproliferative c ytokine, both in malignant and nonmalignant cells. As mentioned a bove, we have recently shown that IFN-a inhibits IL-2 induced proliferation in PHA-activated T-lymphocytes, by abrogating the activation of the cell cycle mac hinery [16]. The present study investi- gates whether this effect may be mediated by cross-talk between the signalling molecules in the IL-2 and IFN-a pathways. We found that IFN-a did not affect the immediate IL-2 mediated phosphorylation of Jak3, the immediate Stat5 DNA binding or the early induction of Stat5 induced genes. However, Jak3 protein expression was severely inhibited by IFN-a after 2 4 h of exposure as well as the prolonged Stat5 DNA-binding. Furthermore, IFN-a partially inhibited the prolonged expression of the Stat5 respons ive gene, IL-2Ra, although the reduction was not as prominent as the effect of IFN-a on Stat5 DNA-binding. The reason f or the discrepancy between the effects o f IFN-a on Stat5 DNA binding and the steady state mRNA levels of Stat5 responsive genes, is unclear at present. It is most likely due to regulation of such genes also by other transcription factors than the ones investigated in the presen t study. This is also supported by t he fact that low mRNA levels of these genes appear well before there is any measurable Stat5 DNA binding activity in the cells (Figs 3,4 and 5). The links between IL-2 signalling and activation of the cell cycle in T-cells are poorly understood. Activation of the PtdIns3K pathway in the human IL-2 dependent T-cell line, Kit225, induces CyclinD3 expression and down-regulation of p27, resulting in pRb phosphorylation and E2F driven transcription [28]. In this s ystem the Stat5 and MEK/ERK2 48 Stat 5 Stat 1 Hours 2 4630.50 PHA IFNα IL-2/IFNα IL-2 IFNα IL-2/IFNα IL-2 IFNα IL-2/IFNα IL-2 IFNα IL-2/IFNα IL-2 IFNα IL-2/IFNα IL-2 Stat 5 Stat 1 Antibody - α–Stat5 IL-2/IFNα 0.5h α–Stat4 α–Stat3 α–Stat1 - α–Stat5 α–Stat4 α–Stat3 α–Stat1 - α–Stat5 α–Stat4 α–Stat3 α–Stat1 IFNα 0.5hIL-2 0.5h0 PHA A B Fig. 4. Stat binding to IL-2Ra GAS-c/GAS-n. (A) Nuclear extracts from quiescent (day 0) or DHA activated T-cells treated with, IL-2 (0.5±48 h), IL-2/IFN-a (0.5±48 h) and IFN-a (0.5±48 h) were prepared and i ncubated with a P 32 IL-2Ra GAS-c/GAS-n labelled GAS ele- ment. DNA binding activity was analysed by EMSA. ( B) Nuclear extrac ts from quiescent (day 0), IL-2 (0.5 h), IL-2/IFN-a (0.5 h) an d IFN-a (0.5 h) -treated T-cells were prepared and incubated for one hour with Stat1, Stat3, Stat4 and Stat5 antibodies, followed by bind- ing to a P 32 IL-2Ra GAS-c/GAS-n labelled GAS element. DNA binding activity was analysed by EMSA. 34 S. Erickson et al. (Eur. J. Biochem. 269) Ó FEBS 2002 pathways seem dispensable for cell cycle activation. How- ever, peripheral T-lymphocytes from Stat5 double-knock- out mice (Stat5a ±/± ,Stat5b ±/± ) a re profoundly d e®cient in their ability to proliferate in response to IL-2, whereas this is not the case for the Stat5a and Stat5b single knockouts [15]. Also, t he incapability of the Stat5a/b de®cient peripheral T-cells to respond to IL-2 stimulation was not to be rescued by supraphysiological concentrations of IL-2, which would bypass the requirement for the expression of IL-2Ra, suggesting a d irect role of Stat5 for IL-2 induced cell cycle progression of peripheral T-lymphocytes [15]. The ®nding that IFN-a inhibited the IL-2 induced expression of Jak3 protein levels and prolonged Stat5 DNA-binding and t ranscription in T-cells may b e of importance in contributing to the antiproliferative pheno- type and i nability t o activate t he cell cycle machinery in these cells. Stat5a/b de®cient T-cells exhibited extensive defects i n IL-2 induced cell cycle activation, with impaired induction of CyclinD2, CyclinD3, CyclinE, Cyclin A and Cdk6. However, downregulation of p27 and induction of Cdk2 was not affected in the Stat5a/b de®cient mice [15]. Addition of IFN- a together with IL-2 to PHA- activated T-cells seems to result in a broader effect on the cell cycle machinery with inhibited induction of CyclinD3, CyclinE, Cdk2 and Cdk6 as well as an abrogated down-regulation of p27 [ 16]. It is therefore likely that IFN-a inhibits several pathways downstream of the IL-2 receptor to generate this prominent effect. Activation of the PtdIns3K pathway results in Akt (protein kinase B) phosphorylation and, as discussed above, a partial activation of the cell cycle machinery. As IFN-a has b een demonstrated to regulate this pathway in some systems [29], we analysed whether IFN affected the IL-2 dependent phosphorylation of Akt. Quiescent T-cells exhibited quite a clear level of Akt-phos- phorylation and IL-2 only slightly enhanced this phospho- rylation. We could not detect any clear differences in IL-2Rα Hours IL-2 IL-2/IFN-α IFN-α IL-2 IL-2/IFN-α IFN-α IL-2 IL-2/IFN-α IFN-α IL-2 IL-2/IFN-α IFN-α 18S rRNA 28S rRNA 0 PHA 2 6 24 48 Pim-1 Fig. 5. IFN-a eects on IL-2 induced IL-2Ra and pim-1 expression. Analysis of IL-2Ra (A) and pim-1 (B) regulation in quiescent (day 0), and PHA (day 3), IL-2 (2±48 h), IL-2/IFN-a (2±48 h) and IFN-a (2±48 h) -treated cells by Northern blot analysis. 18S and 28S rRNA serves as a control for equal loadin g. Ó FEBS 2002 Interferon-a inhibits Stat5 induced transcription (Eur. J. Biochem. 269)35 phosphorylation levels in the IFN cotreated cells. Based on these experiments it is unlikely that IFN inhibits cell cycle activation by inhibiting the PtdIns3K pathway, however, additional experiments need to be performed to characterize this pathway greater in detail. One possible explanation for the almost complete inhi- bition of the IL-2 induced proliferation could b e that IFN-a inhibited the formation of a functional IL-2 receptor. However, based on our ®ndings this seems unlikely. First, IFN-a did not inhibit the immediate IL-2 dependent Stat5 DNA binding or Jak3 phosphorylation. Secondly, we have previously shown that the induction of the oncogene c-myc is not inhibited by cotreatment with IFN-a,ratherIFN seemed to synergize with IL-2 to enhance c-myc expression [16]. Taken together these d ata strongly indicate that the IL-2 receptor is also functional in the presence of IFN-a. In this study, we repeatedly found a biphasic activation of Stat5 in response to IL-2 (Figs 3A and 4A). One explanation for the decrease in Stat5 DNA binding between 3 and 24 h could be the expression of SOCS (suppressors of cytokine signalling). SOCS-3 h as be en reporte d t o b e r apidly and transiently induced in T-lymphocytes following IL-2 stim- ulation, inhibiting Stat5 phosphorylation by interacting with Jak1 and IL-2Rb [30].Furthermore,IFN-a was also found to induce SOCS-3 [31]. One possible explanation for the low levels of Stat5 DNA binding in the IFN-a cotreated cells could thus be that SOCS-3 levels do not return to basal levels and by that inhibit further Stat5 phosphorylation. Another possibility is that the suppression of J ak3 expression (Fig. 1A) in the IFN treated cells affects the phosphorylation of the IL-2Rb chain and thereby inhibits the Stat5 activity. It has been noted that activation of Stats may a lso contribute to the pathogenesis of human leukaemia. Constitutive Stat activation has been reported in cell lines derived from patients with acute myelogenous leukaemia, acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, chronic myelogenous leukaemia and T -cell lymphoma [32±35]. 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SOCS-3 h as be en reporte d t o b e r apidly and transiently induced in T-lymphocytes following IL-2 stim- ulation, inhibiting Stat5 phosphorylation by interacting with Jak1. Interferon-alpha inhibits Stat5 DNA-binding in IL-2 stimulated primary T-lymphocytes Sven Erickson 1, *, Sampsa Matikainen 2, *, Lena Thyrell 1 , Olle Sangfelt 1 ,. on IL-2 induced T-cell proliferation and the signal transduction pathways emerging from the IL-2 receptor. Keywords: interferon-alpha, T-lymphocytes; Stat5; inter- leukin-2; proliferation. Interferons