IL-2 (Interleukin-2) is a biological response modifier (cytokine), which stimulates the growth, proliferation and subsequent differentiation of disease-fighting blood cells, like T-Cells, B-Cells, NK (Natural Killer) cells, monocytes, macrophages, and oligodendrocytes. It is a powerful immunoregulatory lymphokine that was originally described as "T-Cell growth factor" and is secreted primarily by Antigen-activated T-Cells (Ref.1). Human IL-2 is a 133-amino acid polypeptide with a molecular mass of 15-18 kDa. In an autocrine fashion, the Antigen-primed THC (T Helper Cell) secretes IL-2, stimulating itself as well as other neighboring Antigen-primed T-Cells to proliferate (T-Cell activation and proliferation). Growing T-cells in long term culture require IL-2 as a growth factor, and this cytokine is crucial for achieving T-cell-mediated immunity, and thus, regulation of the immune response (Ref.2).
References:
1.Interleukin-2 signaling pathway analysis by quantitative phosphoproteomics.`
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