Interleukin-2 and autoimmune disease occurrence and therapy

X. Geng, R. Zhang, G. Yang, W. Jiang, C. Xu

College of Life Science, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, China. xucs@x263.net

Key Laboratory for Cell Differentiation Regulation, Henan Province and ST Ministry, Xinxiang, China

 

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• Immunology

BACKGROUND: Interleukin-2 (IL-2), also called T-cell growth factor and primarily produced by antigen-activated T cells, is a kind of lymphoid factor with immunoregulatory effect which can promote T-cell-dependent immune responses. IL-2 was first used as a therapeutic approach to boost immune responses in patients with invasive cancer or advanced HIV disease.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the review is to refer the mechanism of autoimmune disease caused by IL-2 deletion and the application of IL-2 in curing autoimmune disease.

STATE OF THE ART: IL-2 signal plays a key role in promoting the development, homeostasis and the function of the regulatory T cells. The deletion of IL-2 in vivo causes T cell-mediated autoimmune diseases. Now it is being considered as a kind of medicine inhibiting immune responses.

PERSPECTIVES: Further studies with controlled clinical trials will be needed to prove the potential of IL-2 as a therapeutic strategy for autoimmune diseases.

CONCLUSIONS: The decreased production of IL-2 in patients with autoimmune disease leads to immune defects, such as decreased production of Treg cells, decreased AICD and cytotoxicity. Combination therapy based on IL-2 may prove to be beneficial in curing the immunological disorders.

 

 

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