Figure 10.  mRNA for each of the component chains of IL15 and IL2 receptors is expressed throughout development

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

IL15Ra

IL2Ra

IL2/IL15Rb

gc

RNA was prepared from equal numbers of:

A.  Fresh E14 thymocytes

B.  E14 thymocytes cultured for 3 days in IL4 + PMA

C.  Water

D.  E14 thymocytes cultured for 3 days in IL4 + PMA then for 1 day in 20nM IL2

E.  As D, but for 3 days in IL2

F.  As D, but for 10 days in IL2

G.  As D, but for 22 days in IL2

H.  As D, but for 1 days in IL15

I.  As D, but for 3 days in IL15

J.  As D, but for 10 days in IL15

Conclusions

1.  mRNA for all of the chains required to form low and high affinity receptors for IL15 and IL2 is present

throughout NK cell development in vitro.

2.  There is no obvious difference in the expression of these RNAs whether NK differentiation is driven by

IL15 or by IL2.

3.  Note that in this experiment IL15Ra primers that amplify only the 3' region of the mRNA were used

in order to minimize the complexity caused by alternate splicing