Clathrin-independent endocytosis and signalling of interleukin 2 receptors - IL-2R endocytosis and signalling

Interleukin 2 receptors (IL-2R) belong to the cytokine receptor family and share subunits with other members of the family. They are essential in T cell activation and in maintaining homeostatic immune responses. These receptors do not have an intrinsic kinase activity and use multiple signalling pathways. Their endocytic pathway is different from that of classic growth factor receptors in that it does not follow the classic clathrin-coated pit and vesicle route. After uptake, one of the IL-2R chains, alpha, recycles to the plasma membrane, whereas the two other chains, beta and gamma, are targeted to late endosomes/lysosomes and degraded. This involves ubiquitination of the receptor as a sorting signal. Links between the signalling events, internalisation and intracellular sorting of these receptors are reviewed.