The promise of low-dose interleukin-2 therapy for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases

Nat Rev Immunol. 2015 May;15(5):283-94. doi: 10.1038/nri3823. Epub 2015 Apr 17.

Abstract

Depletion of regulatory T (TReg) cells in otherwise healthy individuals leads to multi-organ autoimmune disease and inflammation. This indicates that in a normal immune system, there are self-specific effector T cells that are ready to attack normal tissue if they are not restrained by TReg cells. The data imply that there is a balance between effector T cells and TReg cells in health and suggest a therapeutic potential of TReg cells in diseases in which this balance is altered. Proof-of-concept clinical trials, now supported by robust mechanistic studies, have shown that low-dose interleukin-2 specifically expands and activates TReg cell populations and thus can control autoimmune diseases and inflammation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / immunology
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Autoimmune Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Autoimmune Diseases / immunology
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / drug therapy*
  • Inflammation / immunology
  • Interleukin-2 / immunology
  • Interleukin-2 / therapeutic use*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Interleukin-2