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Immunomodulation by interleukin-2 receptor targeted therapy

D Gupta1, S Naik

  • 1Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Uttar Pradesh, India.

The interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) is expressed on proliferating T-lymphocytes following antigen stimulation. Activated IL-2R bearing lymphocytes accumulate as cellular infiltrates in autoimmune thyroiditis, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis and graft rejection. Affected cells in Hodgkin's disease, hairy cell leukaemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and lymphoid blast crises of chronic myeloid leukaemia also express IL-2R. Anti-IL-2R monoclonal antibodies or chimeric IL-2R toxins provide a way of selective elimination of such cells. These have been used in experimental models of autoimmunity and transplantation with beneficial results, providing a novel way of selective immunosuppression. In open uncontrolled trials, chimeric IL-2R toxin was found to be safe and effective in patients with refractory rheumatoid arthritis, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and IL-2R bearing leukaemias and lymphomas.

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