Expression and role of p75 interleukin 2 receptor on human monocytes

We investigated the expression of IL-2R subunits in human monocytes using the TU27 mAb, which recognizes the p75 chain, and anti-Tac mAb, which recognizes the p55 moiety of the IL-2R. We found that p75 but not p55 is constitutively expressed in more than 90% of fresh human monocytes. Antibody to p75, but not to p55, inhibited the activation of monocytes to a cytotoxic stage induced by IL-2 but did not block IFN- gamma-induced cytotoxicity. Our data demonstrate that the p75 chain is expressed on human monocytes and is involved in the activation of monocytes by IL-2.