Final answer:
IL-2 binding to the high-affinity IL-2 receptor leads to T-cell proliferation and differentiation, an essential step in the immune response.
Step-by-step explanation:
The binding of IL-2 to the high-affinity IL-2 receptor induces T-cell proliferation and differentiation of activated T cells. This interaction is crucial for the immune response as IL-2 is a key growth factor for T cells. The high-affinity IL-2 receptor is expressed on the surface of T cells upon activation, and its engagement by IL-2 leads to T cell proliferation and differentiation into effector and memory cells.