Influence of low dose rIL-2 treatment on endogenous cytokine production, expression of surface IL-2R and the level of soluble IL-2R in patients with minimal residual disease.
This study was designed to investigate the immunomodulatory effect of low-dose IL-2 therapy (100 microg/day for 3 weeks) on interferon (IFN), tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production in vivo and in vitro and on the expression of IL-2Ralpha/beta and soluble form of IL-2Ralpha. Patients enrolled in the study suffered from multiple myeloma (MM), Hodgkin's disease (HD) and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) All of them were in remission after chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Our results indicated that IL-2 given subcutaneously at a low dose of 100 microg/day for 3 weeks induced IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha in plasma (measured 24 hrs after the last dose of IL-2) and affected the ability of blood leukocytes to produce cytokines. Production of IFN-gamma induced in vitro with PHA was enhanced, but TNF-alpha production induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and virus (Newcastle Disease Virus) was depressed. The expression of both: surface IL-2R, especially beta subunit on total population of lymphocytes and NK cells, and soluble form of IL-2R, of chain were significantly enhanced after low-dose IL-2 therapy. Low dose IL-2 therapy was well tolerated by all patients, and side effects not exceeding II grade of toxicity according to WHO scale were observed. Five patients with MM relapsed 3-10 month after cessation of IL-2 therapy, but all patients with Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas are still in remission (20 months of observation).
Dmoszyńska
A
A
Department of Hematology, University School of Medicine, Lublin, Poland.
Kandefer-Szerszeń
M
M
Roliński
J
J
Legieć
W
W
Kamińska
T
T
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000097:blood; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
D007376:Interleukin-2; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007372:Interferons