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Sci. STKE, 22 November 2005
Vol. 2005, Issue 311, p. tw417
[DOI: 10.1126/stke.3112005tw417]

EDITORS' CHOICE

IMMUNOLOGY Structural View of Cytokine Interactions

Interleukin-2 (IL-2), a cytokine produced by activated T cells, promotes the proliferation, differentiation, and survival of mature T and B cells. Its actions are primarily mediated through a quaternary signaling complex that consists of IL-2, the α and β receptors (IL-2Rα, IL-2Rβ), and the {gamma}c chain. Now Wang et al. present the extracellular structure of the quaternary complex at 2.3 angstroms resolution. Besides providing insight into IL-2 interactions that might facilitate design of IL-2 agonists and inhibitors, the structure provides a view of the {gamma}c receptor. This receptor is shared for IL-2, IL-4, IL-7, IL-9, IL-15, and IL-21 and is mutated in X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency diseases (X-SCID). Several mutations associated with X-SCID map to residues in the {gamma}c binding sites.

X. Wang, M. Rickert, K. C. Garcia, Structure of the quaternary complex of interleukin–2 with its α, β, and {gamma}c receptors. Science 310, 1159–1163 (2005). [Abstract] [Full Text]

Citation: Structural View of Cytokine Interactions. Sci. STKE 2005, tw417 (2005).

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