Revisiting the role of IL-2 in autoimmunity.
IL-2 was discovered as a T-cell growth factor that promoted T-cell-dependent immune responses; however, more recent studies suggest that the essential role of IL-2 is to maintain functional Treg and thus control immune responses. These results are leading to new ideas about the potential of IL-2 as a therapeutic strategy in autoimmune diseases. In this issue of the European Journal of Immunology, a study further examines the role of IL-2 in immune regulation and shows for the first time that IL-2 complexes can ameliorate autoantibody-mediated autoimmunity. This commentary examines the current findings in relation to what we already know about IL-2 complexes.
Dooms
Hans
H
Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143-0511, USA. Hans.Dooms@ucsf.edu
Abbas
Abul K
AK
D000818:Animals; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology*
D007376:Interleukin-2