IL-2 and IL-4 stimulate different subpopulations of double-negative thymocytes.

Double-negative (CD4-/CD8-) thymocytes from young adult mice can be separated into two distinct subpopulations on the basis of the binding of mAb 7D4 directed against the receptor for IL-2. The 7D4+ cells have predominantly nonrearranged TCR beta-chain genes and express incomplete 1.0-kb beta-messages, whereas the 7D4- cells have rearranged beta-genes and express complete 1.3-kb as well as incomplete 1.0-kb beta-messages. These two populations of double-negative thymocytes also differ in their responses to IL-2 and IL-4. The 7D4+ cells are nonresponsive to IL-2 alone or IL-2 plus PMA but they are stimulated to proliferate by the combination of IL-4 and PMA. In contrast, the 7D4- cells vigorously proliferate in response to IL-2 alone or IL-2 plus PMA but they respond poorly to IL-4 alone or IL-4 plus PMA. These results suggest that IL-2 and IL-4 may be involved in the stimulation of immature thymocytes at distinct steps of their differentiation. IL-4 together with PMA stimulate immature thymocytes which seem to express the IL-2R but do not respond to IL-2.