Interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) also known as High-affinity IL-2 receptor subunit beta, IL-2 receptor subunit beta, and IL-2RB, is involved in T cell-mediated immune responses. CD122/IL-2RB is present in 3 forms concerning the ability to bind interleukin 2. The low-affinity form is a monomer of the alpha subunit and is not involved in signal transduction. The intermediate affinity form consists of an alpha/beta subunit heterodimer, while the high-affinity form consists of an alpha/beta/gamma subunit heterotrimer. Both the intermediate and high-affinity forms of CD122/IL-2RB are involved in receptor-mediated endocytosis and transduction of mitogenic signals from interleukin 2. CD122/IL-2RB expression was restricted to the earliest B220+ cells (CD43+CD24-, prepro B cells, fraction A) that proliferate vigorously to IL-2 in the absence of any stromal cells, but not to IL-15. The high-affinity form of this receptor is expressed on activated T lymphocytes, activated B lymphocytes, and activated macrophages. CD122/IL-2RB plays a role in regulating normal lymphocyte development.
