title: The effect of age on the expression of interleukin-2.
abstract: Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is a growth promoting cytokine that has received a great deal of attention over the past decade with respect to aging and cancer. It is produced primarily by helper T cells and regulates the growth and function of various cells that are involved in cellular and humoral immunity. The expression of IL-2 has been found to decrease with age in humans and rodents. The decline in IL-2 production has been shown to parallel the age-related decrease in immunologic function. Several studies indicate that treatment of lymphocytes from old subjects with exogenous IL-2 or infusion of IL-2 into old animals partially or completely restores some of the immune functions that decline with age. The age-related decline in IL-2 production has been shown to arise from a decline in IL-2 transcription, and a recent study suggests that the transcription factor NFAT (nuclear factor of activated T cells) may play a role in the decline in IL-2 transcription.
authors.affiliation: Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital, San Antonio, Texas 78284, USA.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Pahlavani
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Richardson
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002149:Energy Intake; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D014157:Transcription Factors