Abstract
Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is a growth promoting cytokine that has received a great deal of attention over the past decade with respect to aging and cancer. It is produced primarily by helper T cells and regulates the growth and function of various cells that are involved in cellular and humoral immunity. The expression of IL-2 has been found to decrease with age in humans and rodents. The decline in IL-2 production has been shown to parallel the age-related decrease in immunologic function. Several studies indicate that treatment of lymphocytes from old subjects with exogenous IL-2 or infusion of IL-2 into old animals partially or completely restores some of the immune functions that decline with age. The age-related decline in IL-2 production has been shown to arise from a decline in IL-2 transcription, and a recent study suggests that the transcription factor NFAT (nuclear factor of activated T cells) may play a role in the decline in IL-2 transcription.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 125-154 |
| Number of pages | 30 |
| Journal | Mechanisms of Ageing and Development |
| Volume | 89 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Aug 29 1996 |
Keywords
- Aging
- Immune system
- Interleukin-2
- Transcription
- Transcription factors
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Aging
- Developmental Biology