Background
The common gamma chain (γc) (or CD132), also known as interleukin-2 receptor subunit gamma or IL2RG, is a member of the type I cytokine receptor family expressed on most lymphocyte (white blood cell) populations, and its gene is found on the X-chromosome of mammals. The common gamma chain (γc) (or IL2RG), is a cytokine receptor sub-unit that is common to the receptor complexes for at least six different interleukin receptors: IL-2, IL-4, IL-7, IL-9, IL-15 and interleukin-21 receptor. It is a component of multiple cytokine receptors that are essential for lymphocyte development and function. X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency (XSCID) is a rare and potentially fatal disease caused by mutations of IL2RG, the gene encoding IL2RG. IL2RG was demonstrated to be a component of the IL-4 receptor on the basis of chemical cross-linking data, the ability of IL2RG to augment IL-4 binding affinity. The observation that IL-2R gamma is a functional component of the IL-4 receptor, together with the finding that IL-2R gamma associates with the IL-7 receptor, begins to elucidate why deficiency of this common gamma chain (gamma c) has a profound effect on lymphoid function and development, as seen in X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency.
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