These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: IL-2 family of cytokines in T regulatory cell development and homeostasis.
    Author: Malek TR, Yu A, Zhu L, Matsutani T, Adeegbe D, Bayer AL.
    Journal: J Clin Immunol; 2008 Nov; 28(6):635-9. PubMed ID: 18726679.
    Abstract:
    INTRODUCTION: Interleukin 2 (IL-2) induces an essential signal for T regulatory (Treg) cells. Without a functional IL-2R, only immature CD4(+) Foxp3(low) CD25(neg) T cells develop, and these cells fail to suppress autoreactive T cells in the periphery. DISCUSSION: IL-2 functions during Treg cell development by upregulating Foxp3 and CD25 and by increasing the number of thymic Treg cells. Upon exiting the thymus during neonatal life, IL-2 is responsible for rapid amplification of the number of Treg cells in peripheral lymph nodes to insure suppression of autoreactive T cells that escape negative selection, thereby maintaining tolerance. The homeostasis of Treg cells in mature immunocompetent mice also depends on IL-2. However, there is an alternative mechanism for Treg cells homeostasis that may represent a minor IL-2-independent pathway or the consequence of weak and very transient IL-2R signaling. CONCLUSION: Thus, IL-2 provides importance signals for Treg cell development and for their homeostasis in peripheral immune tissues.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]