Analysis of Interleukin-2 Signaling Using Affinity Precipitations and Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) was first discovered and characterized as T-cell growth factor (1 ). It is responsible for the growth of T cells and thus plays an important role in the proper functioning of the immune system. IL-2 has a high affinity receptor consisting of an α-, β-, and γ-chain. The γ- chain is shared with a number of other cytokines such as IL-3 and IL-7, which also play a role in cell growth (2 ). The IL-2 receptor β- chain also comprises part of the receptor for IL-15.