白细胞介素2受体参与T细胞介导的免疫反应，在结合白细胞介素2的能力方面以3种形式存在。低亲和力形式是α亚单位的单体，不参与信号转导。中间亲和形式由α/β亚单位异二聚体组成，而高亲和形式由α/β/γ亚单位异三聚体组成。受体的中间和高亲和力形式都参与了受体介导的细胞内吞和白细胞介素2的有丝分裂信号转导。该基因编码的蛋白质代表β亚单位，是一种I型膜蛋白。
The interleukin 2 receptor, which is involved in T cell-mediated immune responses, is present in 3 forms with respect to ability to bind interleukin 2. The low affinity form is a monomer of the alpha subunit and is not involved in signal transduction. The intermediate affinity form consists of an alpha/beta subunit heterodimer, while the high affinity form consists of an alpha/beta/gamma subunit heterotrimer. Both the intermediate and high affinity forms of the receptor are involved in receptor-mediated endocytosis and transduction of mitogenic signals from interleukin 2. The protein encoded by this gene represents the beta subunit and is a type I membrane protein.