An essential role for the IL-2 receptor in Treg cell function

The cytokine receptor IL-2R is essential for the development of Treg cells; therefore, it has been difficult to separate this from its role in the suppressive function of Treg cells. Rudensky and colleagues use various genetic systems to show that capture of IL-2 by IL-2R is important for suppression of CD8+ T cells but not that of CD4+ T cells.