interleukin 2

American  

noun

1. Immunology.  a lymphokine protein, secreted by T cells in response to antigen and interleukin 1, that stimulates the proliferation of T cells.

2. Pharmacology.  a form of this protein produced by genetic engineering and used experimentally in immunotherapy. IL-2

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Etymology

Origin of interleukin 2

First recorded in 1980–85; interleukin 1

Example Sentences

After giving the genetically engineered drug Interleukin 2 in high doses to 283 patients with spreading kidney or skin cancer, researchers found that a significant number stayed in remission for periods from seven to 91 months.

From Time Magazine Archive