title: Interleukin-2 is present in human blood vessels and released in biologically active form by heparanase.
abstract: Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is a multifaceted cytokine with immunostimulatory and immunosuppressive properties. Our laboratory recently demonstrated that the availability of IL-2 is regulated, in part, by association with perlecan, a heparan sulfate proteoglycan. Given the abundance of perlecan in blood vessels, we asked whether IL-2 is present in vessel walls. Our results indicate that IL-2 is associated with endothelial and smooth muscle cells within the human arterial wall. This IL-2 is released by heparanase, and promotes the proliferation of an IL-2-dependent cell line. Given the presence of IL-2 in human arteries, we asked whether the large vessels of IL-2-deficient mice were normal. The aortas of IL-2-deficient mice exhibited a loss of smooth muscle cells, suggesting that IL-2 may contribute to their survival. In their entirety, these results suggest a here-to-fore unrecognized role of IL-2 in vascular biology, and have significant implications for both the immune and cardiovascular systems.
authors: Division of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 983285 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-3285, USA.
authors: John D
authors: JD
authors: Miller
authors: Suzanne E
authors: SE
authors: Clabaugh
authors: Deandra R
authors: DR
authors: Smith
authors: R Brian
authors: RB
authors: Stevens
authors: Lucile E
authors: LE
authors: Wrenshall
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