Long-term low-dose IL-2 enhances immune function in common variable immunodeficiency.
Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is a primary immunodeficiency disease characterized by hypogammaglobulinemia and lack of antibody production. Numerous T cell defects have been described, including reduced gene expression and production of IL-2. Since some of the T cell defects could be explained by lack of IL-2, we have been investigating the effects of in vivo IL-2 treatment. Here, a long-acting form of IL-2, PEG-IL-2, was given for 12-18 months to 15 randomly chosen CVID subjects, in comparison to 39 CVID subjects who served as controls. After 6 to 12 months of treatment, T cell proliferative responses to mitogens and to IL-2 were significantly enhanced; proliferative responses to tetanus and candida antigens increased up to 50-fold. Four of eight subjects immunized with the neoantigen bacteriophage &phi;X 174 displayed increased antibody responses after treatment. Treated subjects recorded reduced, but not overall statistically significant, days of bronchitis, diarrhea, and joint pain. These data indicate that IL-2 might serve as an adjuvant to therapy in some subjects with CVID, enhancing T cell functions and reversing T cell anergy in most.
Cunningham-Rundles
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Department of Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York 10029, USA. charlotte.cunningham-rundles@mssm.edu
Bodian
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Ochs
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HD
Martin
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Reiter-Wong
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Zhuo
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D017074:Common Variable Immunodeficiency / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity / Q000187:drug effects; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D007376:Interleukin-2