title: Interleukin-2: inception, impact, and implications.
abstract: Interleukin-2 (IL-2), the first of a series of lymphocytotrophic hormones to be recognized and completely characterized, is pivotal for the generation and regulation of the immune response. A T lymphocyte product, IL-2 also stimulates T cells to undergo cell cycle progression via a finite number of interactions with its specific membrane receptors. Because T cell clonal proliferation after antigen challenge is obligatory for immune responsiveness and immune memory, the IL-2-T cell system has opened the way to a molecular understanding of phenomena that are fundamental to biology, immunology, and medicine.
mesh_terms: D002453:Cell Cycle; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000502:physiology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000502:physiology; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2