Interleukin-2(IL-2)playsacentralroleintheactivationandproliferationoflymphocytesthathavebeenprimedbyantigens.IL-2playsapivotalroleinfortheexpansionofmostT-cells,naturalkillercellsandBcellsduringcertainphasesoftheirresponse.IL-2isa15kDaglycoproteinencodedbyasinglegenelocatedintheq26-28regionofhumanchromosome4.IL-2geneexpressionisregulatedatthetranscriptionallevelbyseveralactivationpathways.Antigen-specificproliferationofhelperandcytotoxicT-lymphocytesfollowingstimulationiscriticallydependentonIL-2expression,secretion,andbindingtoreceptorsforIL-2inducedinanautocrinefashiononthesurfaceofT-cells.Apartfromitsmostimportantroletomediateantigen-specificT-lymphocyteproliferation,IL-2modulatestheexpressionofinterferon-gammaandmajorhistocompatibilityantigens,stimulatesproliferationanddifferentiationofactivatedB-cells,augmentsnaturalkillercellactivityandinhibitsgranulocyte-macrophagecolonyformation.AlterationsintheABIlityofT-cellstosynthesizeIL-2havebeenobservedinphysiologicandpathologicstates.BecauseofthecentralroleofIL-2inimmuneresponse,IL-2turnedouttobeaveryimportantmoleculefordiagnosticandtherapeuticimplications.IL-2displaysantitumoraleffects,thusbeingusedincancertherapy.MonitoringofIL-2levelsinserumprovidesmoredetailedinsightsinseveralpathologicalsituationssuchascancer,infectiousdiseases,transplantrejection,multiplesclerosis,rheumatoidarthritis,systemiclupuserythematosusandtypeIdiabetes.

Synonyms:T-cellgrowthfactor,TCGF,Aldesleukin