Study Illuminates Biology Behind Promising Therapy for Graft-versus-host Disease

In a study published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, the researchers detail how low doses of the drug interleukin-2 (IL-2) can alleviate chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), a debilitating condition that often occurs in patients who have received a stem cell transplant. In patients with chronic GVHD, donor immune cells launch an attack on healthy tissue. IL-2 is so versatile at restoring immune system balance, the researchers found, that it may eventually become a primary treatment for chronic GVHD and may even hold promise for treating autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, which result from a misguided immune system attack on otherwise healthy organs and tissues.04/15/2013
Source: Kidney Cancer Association - Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: news