Interleukin-2 receptor subunit gamma (IL2RG) (IL2RG)

The Interleukin-2 receptor subunit gamma (IL2RG), also known as the common gamma chain (γc) or CD132, is a critical transmembrane glycoprotein that serves as a shared signaling component for several interleukin receptors, including IL-2, IL-4, IL-7, IL-9, IL-15, and IL-21 [1][3]. It is a member of the type I cytokine receptor family and is essential for the development and differentiation of T cells and Natural Killer (NK) cells [1][2]. In the context of engineered NK cells, the common gamma chain is often leveraged to enhance the persistence and anti-tumor activity of the cells, frequently through the co-expression of membrane-bound cytokines like IL-15 that signal through this chain [4][5]. Mutations in the IL2RG gene lead to X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency (X-SCID), highlighting its indispensable role in immune system homeostasis [2][3]. Therapeutically, it is targeted by recombinant cytokines and agonists to boost immune responses against cancer or is genetically modified in cell therapies to provide autonomous survival signals [5][6].

Other names

Common cytokine receptor gamma chainCD132Gamma-cIL-2RGCytokine receptor common subunit gammaP64SCIDXInterleukin-2 receptor gamma chain

The common gamma chain acts as a signal-transducing subunit that, upon binding of its respective cytokines (e.g., IL-2, IL-15), associates with Janus kinases (JAK1 and JAK3) to activate the STAT5 signaling pathway, promoting the survival and effector functions of NK and T cells [1][3][5].