Description
Interleukin-2 (IL-2) has been described as a factor that promotes the growth and proliferation of Human T-cells thus occupying a pivotal role in the generation of the immune response. This proliferation of T lymphocytes is triggered by the interaction of IL-2 with its specific cell surface receptor following T lymphocyte activation. The receptor for IL-2 is composed of at least three distinct polypeptide subunits, the IL-2R, IL-2R, and the IL-2R chains giving rise to a 55-65 kD membrane bound protein. The genes encoding IL-2 and these three receptor subunits have been cloned and their complete primary structures have been deduced. Evidence has accumulated that suggests a critical role of IL-2R in IL-2 signal transduction. IL-2R coupled tyrosine kinases are believed to play a crucial role in that signal transduction