Recombinant Human IL-2 Protein

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is an interleukin, a type of cytokine immune system signaling molecule, which is a leukocytotrophic hormone that is instrumental in the bodys natural response to microbial infection and in discriminating between foreign (non-self) and self. IL-2 mediates its effects by binding to IL-2 receptors, which are expressed by lymphocytes, the cells that are responsible for immunity. Mature human IL-2 shares 56% and 66% aa sequence identity with mouse and rat IL-2, respectively. Human and mouse IL-2 exhibit crossspecies activity. The receptor for IL-2 consists of three subunits that are present on the cell surface in varying preformed complexes. IL-2 is also necessary during T cell development in the thymus for the maturation of a unique subset of T cells that are termed regulatory T cells (T-regs). After exiting from the thymus, T-Regs function to prevent other T cells from recognizing and reacting against "self antigens", which could result in "autoimmunity". T-Regs do so by preventing the responding cells from producing IL-2. Thus, IL-2 is required to discriminate between self and non-self, another one of the unique characteristics of the immune system.

Proteins

Ala21-Thr153

Cytokines & Cytokine receptors

Lyophilized from a 0.22 μm filtered solution of PBS, pH 7.4.

Measured in a cell proliferation assay using HT-2 mouse T cells. The ED₅₀ for this effect is 4.6-18.6 ng/mL, corresponding to a specific activity of 5.38×10⁴~2.17×10⁵ units/mg.