The role of interleukin 2 in autoimmunity

Guido Kroemer, Georg Wick

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

81 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In addition to playing a major role in physiological immune responses against foreign antigens, the interleukin 2 (IL-2)-IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) system may also be implicated in autoimmune phenomena. Initial studies on the role of IL-2 in autoimmunity indicate a deficiency in the production of this lymphokine in autoimmune disease. Here, Guido Kroemer and Georg Wick review recent data supporting the notion that an excess of endogenous or exogenous IL-2 may aggravate autoaggression by triggering autoreactive effector cells, and they speculate that IL-2 might favor the de novo development of autoimmunity by breaking autotolerance.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)246-251
Number of pages6
JournalImmunology Today
Volume10
Issue number7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 1989
Externally publishedYes

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