title: The interleukin (IL)-2 family cytokines: survival and proliferation signaling pathways in T lymphocytes.
abstract: Lymphocyte populations in the immune system are maintained by a well-organized balance between cellular proliferation, cellular survival and programmed cell death (apoptosis). One of the primary functions of many cytokines is to coordinate these processes. In particular, the interleukin (IL)-2 family of cytokines, which consists of six cytokines (IL-2, IL-4, IL-7, IL-9, IL-15 and IL-21) that all share a common receptor subunit (gammac), plays a major role in promoting and maintaining T lymphocyte populations. The details of the molecular signaling pathways mediated by these cytokines have not been fully elucidated. However, the three major pathways clearly involved include the JAK/STAT, MAPK and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (P13K) pathways. The details of these pathways as they apply to the IL-2 family of cytokines is discussed, with a focus on their roles in proliferation and survival signaling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Biology, University at Buffalo, SUNY, Buffalo, New York 14214, USA.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Benczik
authors.forename: Sarah L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Gaffen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000145:classification* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases