TY - JOUR
T1 - Tolerance, not immunity, crucially depends on IL-2
AU - Malek, Thomas R.
AU - Bayer, Allison L.
PY - 2004/9/1
Y1 - 2004/9/1
N2 - Interleukin-2 (IL-2) was identified based on its potent T-cell growth-factor activity and is widely considered to be a key cytokine in T-cell-dependent immune responses. However, the main non-redundant activity of this cytokine centres on the regulation of T-cell tolerance, and recent studies indicate that a failure in the production of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells is the underlying cause of autoimmunity in the absence of IL-2. In marked contrast to the importance of IL-2 in peripheral T-cell tolerance, T-cell immunity is readily elicited to various agents in the absence of IL-2 in vivo. Here, we discuss these findings and, in particular, the action of IL-2 on regulatory T cells and effector cells, and the targeting of IL-2 and/or the IL-2 receptor in clinical settings.
AB - Interleukin-2 (IL-2) was identified based on its potent T-cell growth-factor activity and is widely considered to be a key cytokine in T-cell-dependent immune responses. However, the main non-redundant activity of this cytokine centres on the regulation of T-cell tolerance, and recent studies indicate that a failure in the production of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells is the underlying cause of autoimmunity in the absence of IL-2. In marked contrast to the importance of IL-2 in peripheral T-cell tolerance, T-cell immunity is readily elicited to various agents in the absence of IL-2 in vivo. Here, we discuss these findings and, in particular, the action of IL-2 on regulatory T cells and effector cells, and the targeting of IL-2 and/or the IL-2 receptor in clinical settings.
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U2 - 10.1038/nri1435
DO - 10.1038/nri1435
M3 - Review article
C2 - 15343366
AN - SCOPUS:4544241811
VL - 4
SP - 665
EP - 674
JO - Nature Reviews Immunology
JF - Nature Reviews Immunology
SN - 1474-1733
IS - 9
ER -