Differential localization of IL-2- and -15 receptor chains in membrane rafts of human T cells

We studied whether cytokine receptors (Rs) on T cells associate with lipid microdomains ("rafts"). Low-dose phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated human T cells were separated into cytoplasmic, membrane, and raft fractions by buoyant density centrifugation. Examination of these fractions for the presence of interleukin (IL)-2- and -15R chains and associated signaling molecules by Western blotting revealed marked, selective enrichment of the IL-2/15R β-chain in rafts before IL-2 stimulation. After IL-2 stimulation, a substantial amount of the β-chain was found in the membrane fraction. This partial translocation was also observed for the β-chain-associated molecules JAK-1, p56 ^lck, and grb-2. Finally, raft disruption with methyl-β-cyclodextrin (MBCD) attenuated IL-2-induced tyrosine phosphorylation events and selectively decreased the surface expression of the IL-2/15R β-chain detected by flow cytometry. These results show that the IL-2/15R β-chain is enriched in rafts obtained from low-dose, PHA-stimulated T cells, that IL-2 binding alters this enrichment, and that this enrichment may be functionally relevant as a possible mechanism to ensure cytokine selectivity and specificity.