Interleukin 2, or IL-2, is a pleiotropic cytokine that plays a vital role in the regulation of T-cell responses. IL-2 also plays a crucial role in an extensive range of other immune modulatory actions.
Image Credit: Sino Biological Inc.
IL-2 performs its function by attaching to IL-2 receptors (IL-2R). Three subunits of the IL-2 receptor are available — α chain (CD25), β chain (CD122) and γ chain (CD132). IL-2 and IL-15 receptor complexes share the β and γ chains, and the γ chain is used by IL-4, IL-7, IL-9 and IL-21.
IL-2 attaches to only IL-2Rα with low affinity, to IL-2Rβ and IL-2Rγ heterodimer with intermediate affinity, and to IL-2α/β/γ heterotrimer with high affinity. The cellular sensitivity to IL-2 is governed by the expression of IL-2R by various immune cell subsets. Then, IL-2 signaling is transduced through three distinct pathways: JAK-STAT, MAPK/ERK and PI3K/Akt/mTOR.
Recent studies have identified that the IL-2/IL-2R signaling pathway is an essential target to treat numerous diseases, such as cancer, autoimmune diseases and infectious diseases. At present, new approaches are under development to enhance the efficacy, and reduce the toxic effects of IL-2 therapy. Sino Biological has come up with a panel of recombinant IL-2 and IL-2R protein reagents to simplify the study of the biology of IL-2.
Besides therapeutic usage, recombinant IL-2 protein also enables the proliferation of mitogen-activated T cells and NK cells, the culture of IL-2 dependent T-cell lines and NK cell lines, the determination of thymocyte, splenocyte or peripheral blood lymphocyte-derived T-cell lines, as well as the production of lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells.
Sino Biological has come up with high-activity IL-2 proteins from several species. The activities of such proteins have been confirmed by cell proliferation assays with the help of CTLL2 cells.
Cell proliferation assay using CTLL2 cells. The ED50 is typically 1–5 ng/mL. Image Credit: Sino Biological Inc.
Cell proliferation assay using CTLL2 cells. The ED50 is 0.35–1.4 ng/mL. Image Credit: Sino Biological Inc.
Recombinant IL-2 receptor proteins
IL-2 receptors with various subunits have been created to speed up the study of IL-2/IL-2R signaling.
Source: Sino Biological Inc.
| Cat# |
Species |
Receptor |
Expressed
Host |
Tag |
Activity
Validated |
| 10165-H02H |
Human |
IL-2Rα |
HEK293 |
hFc |
Bind to human IL-2 |
| 10165-H08H |
Human |
IL-2Rα |
HEK293 |
His |
Inhibit IL-2 induced
proliferation |
| 50292-M02H |
Mouse |
IL-2Rα |
HEK293 |
hFc |
|
| 80074-R08B |
Rat |
IL-2Rα |
Insect |
His |
|
| 90265-C02H |
Cynomolgus |
IL-2Rα |
HEK293 |
hFc |
|
| 90265-C27H-B |
Rhesus |
IL-2Rα |
HEK293 |
AVI & His |
|
| 10696-H05H |
Human |
IL-2Rβ |
HEK293 |
mFc |
Bind to human IL-2 |
| 50792-M08H |
Mouse |
IL-2Rβ |
HEK293 |
His |
|
| 70082-D02H |
Canine |
IL-2Rβ |
HEK293 |
hFc |
|
| 10555-H08H |
Human |
IL-2Rγ |
HEK293 |
His |
|
| 10555-H08B |
Human |
IL-2Rγ |
Insect |
His |
Bind to rat IL-2 |
| 50087-M03H |
Mouse |
IL-2Rγ |
HEK293 |
Fc & His |
|
| 80197-R02H |
Rat |
IL-2Rγ |
HEK293 |
hFc |
|
Cytokines share the IL-2R γ chain
The cytokines sharing the common gamma-chain (γc) among their receptor subunits — such as interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-4, IL-7, IL-9, IL-15 and IL-21 — play a crucial role in the regulation of immune responses.
Out of the members of the γc family, IL-15 shares several biological activities with IL-2 as they tend to bind common hematopoietic receptor (IL-2/15Rβ and γc) subunits and might fight for the same receptor. IL-15 triggers the activation of JAK kinases, as well as the phosphorylation and activation of transcription activators, STAT3, STAT5 and STAT6.