title: IL-2 induces in vivo suppression by CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells.
abstract: Interleukin-2 (IL-2) treatment is currently used to enhance T cell-mediated immune responses against tumors or in viral infections. At the same time, IL-2 is essential for the peripheral homeostasis of CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+ )regulatory T cells (Treg). In our study, we show that IL-2 is also an important activator of Treg suppressive activity in vivo. IL-2 treatment induces Treg expansion as well as IL-10 production and increases their suppressive potential in vitro. Importantly, in vivo application of IL-2 via gene-gun vaccination using IL-2 encoding DNA plasmids (pIL-2) inhibited naive antigen-specific T cell proliferation as well as a Th1-induced delayed type hypersensitivity response. The suppressive effect can be transferred onto naive animals by Treg from IL-2-treated mice and the suppression depends on the synergistic action of IL-10 and TGF-beta. These data highlight that during therapeutic treatment with IL-2 the concomitant activation of Treg may indeed counteract the intended activation of cellular immunity.
authors.affiliation: Immunomodulation Group, Deutsches Rheuma-Forschungszentrum Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brandenburg
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Maurus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de la Rosa
authors.forename: Marko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Janke
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Karsten
authors.forename: Till
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Muzzulini
authors.forename: Zane
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Orinska
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bulfone-Paus
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scheffold
mesh_terms: D019264:Adoptive Transfer; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000032:analysis*; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000378:metabolism*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000637:transplantation; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000637:transplantation; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000276:immunology; D014611:Vaccination; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; C498833:Foxp3 protein, mouse; D007376:Interleukin-2; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D016753:Interleukin-10; D010047:Ovalbumin