Fifty years after IL-2 discovery, researchers reflect on how it has transformed medicine
A discovery made 50 years ago helped establish the field of human retrovirology, advance understanding of the human immune system and contribute to a revolution in cancer treatment. A new perspective in Science examines that history, beginning with the 1976 discovery by Robert C. Gallo, MD, and his colleagues of a human T-cell growth factor later named interleukin-2 (IL-2).
In 1976, Robert C. Gallo and his colleagues made a groundbreaking discovery of interleukin-2 (IL-2) in human T-cell growth factor. This discovery marked the beginning of a new era in medicine. Dr. Rafi Ahmed and Dr. Steven A. Rosenberg, in a recent perspective published in Science, reflect on how IL-2 has transformed the field of medicine over the past 50 years.
The ability to grow and maintain human T cells in culture enabled scientists to make significant discoveries, including the identification of human T-cell leukemia viruses (HTLV-1 and HTLV-2), the first human retroviruses, and later, HIV. This breakthrough paved the way for the development of HIV blood tests and has had a profound impact on immunology and cancer treatment, including tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy and CAR-T cell therapy.
Dr. William W. Hall, co-founder of the Global Virus Network (GVN), emphasizes the importance of IL-2 in advancing human retrovirology, stating that it allowed for the isolation and characterization of human retroviruses in ways that were previously impossible. Dr. Mark Kaplan and Dr. Hall used IL-2-treated lymphocytes to isolate multiple strains of HTLV-2, highlighting the crucial role of IL-2 in this discovery.
Today, 50 years after the discovery of IL-2, its legacy continues to be felt in the field of biomedical science. As governments and research institutions worldwide debate funding priorities, this anniversary serves as a reminder of the transformative power of basic research. Dr. Quarraisha Abdool Karim, a GVN board member, underscores the enduring impact of Gallo's work and the importance of continued investment in curiosity-driven research to drive advancements in human health.
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