CD8 & IL2

Enables cytokine activity and interleukin-2 receptor binding activity. Involved in negative regulation of T-helper 17 cell differentiation. Acts upstream of or within several processes, including extrinsic apoptotic signaling pathway in absence of ligand; positive regulation of macromolecule metabolic process; and regulation of lymphocyte activation. Located in extracellular space. Is expressed in liver; omental bursa; thymus; and thymus primordium. Used to study Sjogren's syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease. Human ortholog(s) of this gene implicated in several diseases, including Takayasu's arteritis; auditory system disease (multiple); autoimmune disease (multiple); carcinoma (multiple); and neurodegenerative disease (multiple). Orthologous to human IL2 (interleukin 2).

CD8 (cluster of differentiation 8) is a transmembrane glycoprotein that serves as a co-receptor for the T cell receptor (TCR). Like the TCR, CD8 binds to a major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecule, but is specific for the class I MHC protein. There are two isoforms of the protein, alpha and beta, each encoded by a different gene. In humans, both genes are located on chromosome 2 in position 2p12.