IL-2 (mouse): Fc (mouse) (rec.)

Unfortunately, most cytokines have short circulating half-lives. With the creation of a group of new immunoglobulin- based cytokine fusion proteins, in which a cytokine sequence had been genetically fused to the hinge, CH2 and CH3 regions of an immunoglobulin, these cytokine fusion proteins possess both the biological functions of the cytokine moiety and the prolonged circulating half-life determined by the Fc domain. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is a 133 amino acid glycoprotein with one intramolecular disulfide bond and variable glycosylation. It is secreted by activated T cells and induces proliferation and maturation of activated T cells, natural killer cells, and lymphokine activated killer cells. IL-2 also stimulates proliferation of antibody-producing B cells, activates neutrophils, and induces mononuclear cells to secrete IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha and -beta. Moreover, studies have shown that IL-2 is required for activation-induced apoptosis, an important hemeostatic mechanism in the immune system, which is involved in the maintenance of peripheral tolerance to self-antigens.