interleukin-2
noun
in·ter·leu·kin-2
ˌin-tər-ˈlü-kən-ˈtü 
: an interleukin produced by antigen-stimulated helper T cells in the presence of interleukin-1 that induces proliferation of immune cells (such as T cells and B cells) and is used experimentally especially in treating certain cancers
—abbreviation IL-2
Examples of interleukin-2 in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
It’s injected under the skin and targets the receptor on the surface of certain immune cells that binds to the messenger protein interleukin-2 (IL-2), a crucial regulator of the immune system.
—
New Atlas, 24 June 2025
Biologics: Biologics, such as interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor antibodies and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors, may help reduce inflammation and symptoms by targeting specific proteins or cells in the immune system.
—Suchandrima Bhowmik, Health, 2 May 2025
When chemicals known as antigens, found on the surfaces of foreign invaders, bind to the molecular receptors on the membrane of a T cell, the T cell receptor pathway is turned on, signaling the DNA in the cell nucleus to create and release a protein called interleukin-2.
—Gary Taubes, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019
The researchers gave 185 patients with advanced melanoma one of two treatments: the vaccine and interleukin-2, or interleukin-2 alone.
—Valerie Ross, Discover Magazine, 7 June 2011
Investigators have used pet dogs to study the intranasal delivery of a cytokine, a small immune system molecule, called interleukin-2 (IL-2) to treat naturally occurring lung cancers.
—David J. Waters, Scientific American, 1 Sep. 2015
In Paris, David Klatzmann, an immunologist at Sorbonne University, is experimenting with treating autoimmune disorders with low levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2), an immune-signaling molecule first used to treat cancer in the mid-1980s.
—Karen Weintraub, Scientific American, 30 Sep. 2019
Synthorx has developed a partly artificial version of interleukin-2, a natural compound with anti-cancer activity.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 July 2019
Researchers studying the immune system discovered the molecules interferon and interleukin-2; each was initially hailed as a promising treatment based on their dramatic effects in shrinking tumors in rodents.
—Jerome Groopman, The New York Review of Books, 21 Mar. 2019
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New Atlas, 24 June 2025
Biologics: Biologics, such as interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor antibodies and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors, may help reduce inflammation and symptoms by targeting specific proteins or cells in the immune system.
—Suchandrima Bhowmik, Health, 2 May 2025
When chemicals known as antigens, found on the surfaces of foreign invaders, bind to the molecular receptors on the membrane of a T cell, the T cell receptor pathway is turned on, signaling the DNA in the cell nucleus to create and release a protein called interleukin-2.
—Gary Taubes, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019
The researchers gave 185 patients with advanced melanoma one of two treatments: the vaccine and interleukin-2, or interleukin-2 alone.
—Valerie Ross, Discover Magazine, 7 June 2011
Investigators have used pet dogs to study the intranasal delivery of a cytokine, a small immune system molecule, called interleukin-2 (IL-2) to treat naturally occurring lung cancers.
—David J. Waters, Scientific American, 1 Sep. 2015
In Paris, David Klatzmann, an immunologist at Sorbonne University, is experimenting with treating autoimmune disorders with low levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2), an immune-signaling molecule first used to treat cancer in the mid-1980s.
—Karen Weintraub, Scientific American, 30 Sep. 2019
Synthorx has developed a partly artificial version of interleukin-2, a natural compound with anti-cancer activity.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 July 2019
Researchers studying the immune system discovered the molecules interferon and interleukin-2; each was initially hailed as a promising treatment based on their dramatic effects in shrinking tumors in rodents.
—Jerome Groopman, The New York Review of Books, 21 Mar. 2019
Cite this Entry
“Interleukin-2.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/interleukin-2. Accessed 23 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
interleukin-2
noun
: an interleukin produced by antigen-stimulated helper T cells in the presence of interleukin-1 that induces proliferation of immune cells (as T cells and B cells) and has been used experimentally especially in treating certain cancers
—abbreviation IL-2
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