title: Interleukin-2 as a therapeutic agent.
abstract: Interleukin-2 (IL-2) belongs to a class of soluble, regulatory proteins known as cytokines. It is a 133 amino acid glycoprotein secreted by T(H) lymphocytes and other cells following activation by antigens, mitogens and other cytokines. It stimulates the proliferation and cytotoxicity of T lymphocytes. It also enhances the microbicidal and cytotoxic activities of NK cells, B lymphocytes, macrophages and monocytes. IL-2 can now be produced in unlimited quantities by recombinant DNA technology and used therapeutically to modulate the immune system in a number of diseases. A number of different studies have demonstrated its therapeutic value in HIV +ve and AIDS patients. It has been approved by US-FDA for treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and metastatic melanoma. Routine detection of soluble IL-2 receptor in blood could be useful as a diagnostic marker in some autoimmune diseases. Agents that antagonize IL-2 find application as immunosuppressants. The main adverse effect of IL-2 is capillary leak syndrome caused by increased capillary permeability and extravasation of fluid. In days to come, IL-2 is likely to play an increasingly important role in management of viral infections, malignancies and a number of other diseases conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, TN Medical College and BYL Nair Hospital, Mumbai.
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Sule
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Nerurkar
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kamath
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2