An IL-2 mutein engineered to promote expansion of regulatory T cells arrests ongoing autoimmunity in mice

Abstract

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) controls the homeostasis and function of regulatory T (T_reg) cells, and defects in the IL-2 pathway contribute to multiple autoimmune diseases. Although recombinant IL-2 therapy has been efficacious in certain inflammatory conditions, the capacity for IL-2 to also activate inflammatory effector responses highlights the need for IL-2-based therapeutics with improved T_reg cell specificity. From a panel of rationally designed murine IL-2 variants, we identified IL-2 muteins with reduced potency and enhanced T_reg cell selectivity due to increased dependence on the IL-2 receptor component CD25. As an Fc-fused homodimer, the optimal Fc.IL-2 mutein induced selective T_reg cell enrichment and reduced agonism of effector cells across a wide dose range. Furthermore, despite being a weaker agonist, overall T_reg cell growth was greater and more sustained due to reduced receptor-mediated clearance of the Fc.IL-2 mutein compared with Fc-fused wild-type IL-2. Preferential T_reg cell enrichment was also observed in the presence of activated pathogenic T cells in the pancreas of nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice, despite a loss of T_reg cell selectivity in an IL-2R proximal response. These properties facilitated potent and extended resolution of NOD diabetes with infrequent dosing schedules.