Il-2 (IL2) Active Protein

The protein encoded by this gene is a secreted cytokine that is important for the proliferation of T and B lymphocytes. The receptor of this cytokine is a heterotrimeric protein complex whose gamma chain is also shared by interleukin 4 (IL4) and interleukin 7 (IL7). The expression of this gene in mature thymocytes is monoallelic, which represents an unusual regulatory mode for controlling the precise expression of a single gene. The targeted disruption of a similar gene in mice leads to ulcerative colitis-like disease, which suggests an essential role of this gene in the immune response to antigenic stimuli. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]

IL2: Produced by T-cells in response to antigenic or mitogenic stimulation, this protein is required for T-cell proliferation and other activities crucial to regulation of the immune response. Can stimulate B-cells, monocytes, lymphokine- activated killer cells, natural killer cells, and glioma cells. A chromosomal aberration involving IL2 is found in a form of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). Translocation t(4;16)(q26;p13) with involves TNFRSF17. Belongs to the IL-2 family.

Protein type: Cytokine; Secreted, signal peptide; Secreted; Oncoprotein

Chromosomal Location of Human Ortholog: 4q26-q27

Cellular Component: extracellular space; extracellular region

Molecular Function: growth factor activity; interleukin-2 receptor binding; kinase activator activity; cytokine activity; carbohydrate binding; glycosphingolipid binding; kappa-type opioid receptor binding

Biological Process: positive regulation of isotype switching to IgG isotypes; negative regulation of heart contraction; natural killer cell activation; positive regulation of activated T cell proliferation; negative regulation of lymphocyte proliferation; elevation of cytosolic calcium ion concentration; negative regulation of protein amino acid phosphorylation; cell-cell signaling; positive regulation of cell proliferation; protein kinase C activation; positive regulation of B cell proliferation; cell adhesion; T cell differentiation; positive regulation of interleukin-17 production; regulation of T cell homeostatic proliferation; positive regulation of regulatory T cell differentiation; positive regulation of immunoglobulin secretion; positive regulation of cell growth; positive regulation of interferon-gamma production; positive regulation of tissue remodeling; positive regulation of tyrosine phosphorylation of Stat5 protein; negative regulation of inflammatory response; immune response; positive regulation of transcription from RNA polymerase II promoter; negative regulation of B cell apoptosis; positive regulation of inflammatory response; negative regulation of apoptosis