Low-dose interleukin-2 as a modulator of Treg homeostasis after HSCT: current understanding and future perspectives.

Low-dose interleukin-2 as a modulator of Treg homeostasis after HSCT: current understanding and future perspectives. Int J Hematol. 2017 Dec 12;: Authors: Matsuoka KI Abstract CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Treg is a functionally distinct subset of mature T cells with broad suppressive activity and has been shown to play an important role in the establishment of immune tolerance after HSCT. Altered cytokine environment in post-HSCT lymphopenia with a relative functional deficiency of IL-2 could hamper the reconstitution of Treg, leading to refractory GVHD. Based on the theory of low-dose IL-2 in which Treg can be selectively stimulated through the high-affinity IL-2 receptor, clinical studies have been conducted and demonstrated that low-dose IL-2 administration can restore Treg homeostasis and promote the expansion of this subset on the polymorphic processes of Treg reconstitution after HSCT. The new therapeutic indication of IL-2 for immune tolerance has launched in the field of HSCT and is spreading to the other fields including the treatment for autoimmune diseases. To further extend the indication of low-dose IL-2 to more patients with various immunological problems, the optimization of the timing and dosing of IL-2 intervention and the concomitant immune suppressive therapy according to each patient-based assessment are to be desired in the near future. Further prospective studies may facilitate the development of novel therapeutic algorithms...
Source: International Journal of Hematology - Category: Hematology Authors: Tags: Int J Hematol Source Type: research