Mitogenic in murine splenocytes and inducing cytokines interferon-gamma, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interleukin-2 expression in splenocytes. Inhibits proliferation of leukemia (L1210) and hepatoma (HepG2) cells and the activity of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase. The gene discussed is IL2; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.