Abstract

Common cytokine receptor -chain (_c) family cytokines have crucial roles in the development, proliferation, survival and differentiation of multiple cell lineages of both the innate and adaptive immune systems. In this Review, we focus on our current understanding of the distinct and overlapping effects of interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-7, IL-9, IL-15 and IL-21, as well as the IL-7-related cytokine thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), on the survival and proliferation of conventional T cells, T cells and regulatory T cells. This knowledge potentially allows for the therapeutic manipulation of immune responses for the treatment of cancer, autoimmunity, allergic diseases and immunodeficiency, as well as for vaccine development.

Author affiliations

1. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-1674, USA.

Correspondence to: Warren J. Leonard¹ Email: wjl@helix.nih.gov

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