Homozygous mutant mice for the Il2tm1Hor targeted mutation show no apparent deficit in thymocyte differentiation or selection, types and numbers of T cells from spleens and lymph nodes are comparable to those of wildtype. They do have an impaired response to polyclonal T cell activators in the absence of additional IL2, deficits in their helper function and a reduction in natural killer cell activity. There is significant pre-weaning and post-weaning loss of homozygotes on the BALB/c, C3H/HeJCrlBR and C57BL/6J genetic backgrounds. In addition, homozygous mice develop inflammatory bowel disease between 6 and 15 weeks of age and reportedly die within 10-25 weeks under conventional housing conditions. Homozygotes on the C57BL/6J genetic background show an atrophied pancreas with apparently intact islets. Homozygotes on the BALB/c genetic background do not develop inflammatory bowel disease symptoms but rather die 3-5 weeks postnatally of a form of hemolytic anemia. For a more detailed description please refer to the JAX Notes Fall 1996 article.

These IL-2 knock-out mice exhibit an impaired response to polyclonal T cell activators, deficits in their helper function, and a reduction in natural killer cell activity.

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