Pleiotropic Effects of IL-2 on Cancer: Its Role in Cervical Cancer

Figure 3

IL-2 concentration and homeostasis. Under steady state conditions, interleukin 2 is primarily produced by activated T cells, particularly CD4⁺ T cells. Then, the secreted IL-2 is consumed by Treg cells and adjacent activated CD4⁺, CD8⁺, and γδ T cells and NK cells (cells with functional high-affinity IL-2 receptors). Binding of IL-2 to its receptor initiates activating and/or mitogenic signals and induces the differentiation of naïve T cells into effector and memory T cells. The survival of Ag-selected T cells is essential for the maintenance of Treg cells. Additionally, DCs are able to produce IL-2 in response to the recognition of some pathogen-associated molecular patterns, which favours the proliferation of specific T cells. IL-2 production is regulated by silencing the IL-2 gene to prevent the apoptosis of these cells.