Summary
Interleukin-2 (IL-2) has been the first and more extensively studied cytokine, in particular for its central role in the mechanisms of cell growth and differentiation. The function of IL-2 is mediated through specific receptors (IL-2R) present on the membrane of reacting cells. Using hybridoma and recombinant DNA technologies, both IL-2 and IL-2R have been biochemically characterized and purified and are available for in vitro and in vivo studies. The biological and clinical investigations on IL-2/IL-2R system have contributed to opening new avenues for the comprehension of phenomena that are critically important for biology, immunology and medicine.
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Semenzato, G., Pizzolo, G. & Zambello, R. The interleukin-2/interleukin-2 receptor system: structural, immunological, and clinical features. Int J Clin Lab Res 22, 133–142 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02591413
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02591413