Interleukin-2 (IL-2)
Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is a cytokine protein with a central role in immune regulation.
Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is a cytokine protein with a central role in immune regulation. The provided literature describes IL-2 as influencing the activation and proliferation of multiple immune-cell populations, including natural killer cells, effector T cells, and regulatory T cells. Its activity is therefore relevant to interactions among CD8-positive T cells, regulatory T cells, the tumor microenvironment, and immunotherapy. IL-2 is also studied alongside other cytokines, including interferon gamma (IFNG), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-4, interleukin-6, and interleukin-10.
The broad activity of IL-2 creates both therapeutic opportunities and challenges. In cancer research, it has been combined with engineered immune cells, oncolytic viruses, messenger RNA delivery, checkpoint-oriented approaches involving PD-1, CTLA-4, CD274, or TIGIT, and localized delivery systems. Its effects on both effector immune cells and regulatory T cells have also motivated strategies intended to direct IL-2 preferentially to selected cell types, including regulatory T cells. Recent work places IL-2 in diverse settings, ranging from tumor immunotherapy and T-cell engineering to intracranial disease and studies of biological aging.
Where the papers sit
12 papers from the last 6 months study Interleukin-2 (IL-2) directly · updated from PubMed 26 Sept 2026
Study type 2 clinical trials · 1 observational · 2 human data · 6 preclinical · 1 unclassified
Themes no clear themes
Those 12 do not share a common subject.
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IL-2 appears across engineered cytokine delivery, Treg therapy, cytotoxic T- and NK-cell reprogramming, viral vectors, and cancer immunotherapy. The set also includes unrelated studies of biological aging and intracranial disease, preventing a shared mechanistic focus. Approaches range from localized IL2 expression in ovarian cancer to receptor-tethered cytokines and IL-2-targeting nanobodies. No consistent therapeutic direction or common endpoint emerges from this mixture.
Papers
The 12 papers from the last 6 months that study Interleukin-2 (IL-2) directly, newest first, by theme and by study type. Study types come from PubMed publication types and MeSH headings.
By theme
No clear themes (12)
- In vivo genome-wide CRISPR screens identify FOXR1 as a suppressor of CD8+ T cell antitumor immunity. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America · 8 Sept 2026 PMID 42709802
- Receptor-tethered orthogonal IL-2 enhances regulatory T cell therapy. The Journal of experimental medicine · 12 Aug 2026 PMID 42584417
- Phase 1 study of intracranial T cell therapy with pemetrexed for refractory brain metastases and glioblastomas. Cell reports. Medicine · 5 Aug 2026 PMID 42556340
- The oncolytic viral immunotherapy ASP1012 optimizes memory T cell responses after systemic delivery. Molecular therapy : the journal of the American Society of Gene Therapy · 9 Jul 2026 PMID 42421317
- Genetic and epigenetic underpinnings of biological aging: a multi-omics study integrating Mendelian randomization, spatial transcriptomics, and drug target discovery. Clinical epigenetics · 25 Jun 2026 PMID 42343471
- Cytokine levels in serum and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Brain research · 29 May 2026 PMID 42214536
- Integrating network pharmacology with ex-vivo analysis to assess the effect of IL-2 in halting breast cancer: involvement of Treg/CTLA-4/Blimp-1/caspase-3. Scientific reports · 26 May 2026 PMID 42192107
- First-In-Human Trial of Encapsulated Cells Constitutively Expressing Localized IL2 in Patients with High-Grade Serous Ovarian Carcinoma. Clinical cancer research : an official journal of the American Association for Cancer Research · 11 May 2026 PMID 42113012
- In vivo reprogramming of cytotoxic effector CD8 T cells via fractalkine-conjugated mRNA-LNPs. Science immunology · 8 May 2026 PMID 42102231
- Molecular dynamics simulations along with the synthesis of innovative engineered nanobodies targeting Interleukin-2. Molecular biology reports · 29 Apr 2026 PMID 42053822
- Re-engineering segment 8 facilitates generation of a versatile live-attenuated influenza A virus vector platform for secretory protein delivery. Journal of virology · 21 Apr 2026 PMID 42012179
- Base Editing of TIGIT Reprograms CD155 Signaling in Natural Killer Cells to Enhance Cancer Immunotherapy Efficacy. Cancer research · 15 Apr 2026 PMID 41982126
By study type
Clinical trials (2)
- Phase 1 study of intracranial T cell therapy with pemetrexed for refractory brain metastases and glioblastomas. Cell reports. Medicine · 5 Aug 2026 PMID 42556340
- First-In-Human Trial of Encapsulated Cells Constitutively Expressing Localized IL2 in Patients with High-Grade Serous Ovarian Carcinoma. Clinical cancer research : an official journal of the American Association for Cancer Research · 11 May 2026 PMID 42113012
Observational studies and case reports (1)
- Cytokine levels in serum and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Brain research · 29 May 2026 PMID 42214536
Human data, design not indexed (2)
- Integrating network pharmacology with ex-vivo analysis to assess the effect of IL-2 in halting breast cancer: involvement of Treg/CTLA-4/Blimp-1/caspase-3. Scientific reports · 26 May 2026 PMID 42192107
- Molecular dynamics simulations along with the synthesis of innovative engineered nanobodies targeting Interleukin-2. Molecular biology reports · 29 Apr 2026 PMID 42053822
Preclinical: animal, cell and lab studies (6)
- In vivo genome-wide CRISPR screens identify FOXR1 as a suppressor of CD8+ T cell antitumor immunity. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America · 8 Sept 2026 PMID 42709802
- Receptor-tethered orthogonal IL-2 enhances regulatory T cell therapy. The Journal of experimental medicine · 12 Aug 2026 PMID 42584417
- The oncolytic viral immunotherapy ASP1012 optimizes memory T cell responses after systemic delivery. Molecular therapy : the journal of the American Society of Gene Therapy · 9 Jul 2026 PMID 42421317
- In vivo reprogramming of cytotoxic effector CD8 T cells via fractalkine-conjugated mRNA-LNPs. Science immunology · 8 May 2026 PMID 42102231
- Re-engineering segment 8 facilitates generation of a versatile live-attenuated influenza A virus vector platform for secretory protein delivery. Journal of virology · 21 Apr 2026 PMID 42012179
- Base Editing of TIGIT Reprograms CD155 Signaling in Natural Killer Cells to Enhance Cancer Immunotherapy Efficacy. Cancer research · 15 Apr 2026 PMID 41982126
Unclassified: not yet indexed with MeSH (1)
- Genetic and epigenetic underpinnings of biological aging: a multi-omics study integrating Mendelian randomization, spatial transcriptomics, and drug target discovery. Clinical epigenetics · 25 Jun 2026 PMID 42343471
Written from 12 PubMed abstracts, each one listed by PMID above. Published: 2026-09-26. Drafted by language models from published abstracts; not medical advice.