Immunology
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Description
Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is produced and secreted by activated T-cells and is the major interleukin responsible for T-cell proliferation. IL-2 also exerts effects on B-cells, macrophages, and natural killer (NK) cells. The production of IL-2 occurs primarily by CD4+ T-helper cells.
Discussion
Interleukin-2 (IL2), formerly referred to as T-cell growth factor, is a powerfully immunoregulatory lymphokine that is produced by lectin- or antigen-activated T cells (Lowenthal et al., 1985; Smith, 1988). It is produced not only by mature T lymphocytes on stimulation but also constitutively by certain T-cell lymphoma cell lines. It is useful in the study of the molecular nature of T-cell differentiation and, like interferons, augments natural killer cell activity.
Abstracts
Interleukin-2 is one of the targets of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in the immune system
Arch Biochem Biophys. 2002 Jun 15;402(2):249-54. Bemiss CJ, Mahon BD, Henry A, Weaver V, Cantorna MT.
- Interleukin (IL)-2 knockout (KO) mice, which spontaneously develop symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease similar to ulcerative colitis in humans, were made vitamin D deficient (D-) or vitamin D sufficient (D+) or were supplemented with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (1,25D3). 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 supplementation, but not vitamin D supplementation, reduced the early mortality of IL-2 KO mice. However, colitis severity was not different in D-, D+, or 1,25D3 IL-2 KO mice. Cells from D- IL-2 KO mice produced more interferon (IFN)-gamma than cells from all other mice. Con A-induced proliferation was upregulated in IL-2 KO mice and downregulated in wildtype (WT) mice fed 1,25D3. All other measured immune responses in cells from IL-2 KO mice were unchanged by vitamin D status. In vitro addition of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 significantly reduced the production of IL-10 and IFN-gamma in cells from D- and D+ WT mice. Conversely, IFN-gamma and IL-10 production in cells from IL-2 KO mice were refractory to in vitro 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 treatments. In the absence of IL-2, vitamin D was ineffective for suppressing colitis and ineffective for the in vitro downregulation of IL-10 or IFN-gamma production. One target of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in the immune system is the IL-2 gene.
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