CD25 (IL2Ralpha, Tac) is a ligand-binding alpha subunit of interleukin 2 receptor (IL2R). Together with beta and gamma subunit CD25 constitues the high affinity IL2R, whereas CD25 alone serves as the low affinity IL2R. CD25 expression rapidly increases upon T cell activation. The 55 kDa CD25 molecule is enzymatically cleaved and shed from the cell surface as a soluble 45 kDa s-Tac, whose concentration in serum can be used as a marker of T cell activation. Expression of CD25 indicates the neoplastic phenotype of mast cells. CD25+ CD4+ FoxP3+ regulatory cells (Treg cells) play a crucial role in the control of organ-specific autoimmune diseases.
