Are there any cytokines used for disease treatments?

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is the first cytokine used for disease treatment. IL-2 dramatically stimulates the growth and proliferation of immune system cells, particularly T and natural killer (NK) cells, which are integral to the human immune response. A man-made version of Interleukin-2 has been approved to treat patients with advanced metastatic melanoma and metastatic renal cancer. IL-2 can be used as a single drug treatment for these cancers, or combined with chemotherapy or with other cytokines such as interferon-alfa. It is the first cancer immunotherapy approved by the U.S. FDA.