interleukin

interleukin /in·ter·leu·kin/ (-loo´kin) a generic term for a group of multifunctional cytokines that are produced by a variety of lymphoid and nonlymphoid cells and whose effects occur at least partly within the lymphopoietic system.

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interleukin-2  (IL-2) one produced by T cells in response to antigenic or mitogenic stimulation, acting to regulate the immune response. It stimulates the proliferation of T cells and the synthesis of other T cell–derived cytokines, stimulates the growth and cytolytic function of NK cells to produce lymphokine-activated killer cells, is a growth factor for and stimulates antibody synthesis in B cells, and may promote apoptosis in antigen-activated T cells; it is used pharmaceutically as an antineoplastic.

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in·ter·leu·kin (ntr-lkn)

n.

Any of a class of lymphokines that act to stimulate, regulate, or modulate lymphocytes such as T cells.

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interleukin (in·tr·lōōˑ·kin),

n any of the family of proteins produced by lymphocytes and macrophages in the presence of antigens; responsible for T-cell proliferation.