Interleukin-2/antibody complex expanding Foxp3 regulatory T cells exacerbates Th2-mediated allergic airway inflammation

BMB Rep. 2019 Apr;52(4):283-288. doi: 10.5483/BMBRep.2019.52.4.271.

Abstract

Foxp3+ regulatory CD4+ T (Treg) cells play an essential role in preventing overt immune responses against self and innocuous foreign antigens. Selective expansion of endogenous Treg cells in response to the administration of interleukin (IL)-2/antibody complex, such as the IL-2/JES6-1 complex (IL-2C) in mice, is considered an attractive therapeutic approach to various immune disorders. Here, we investigated the therapeutic potential of IL-2C in allergic airway inflammation models. IL-2C treatment ameliorated Th17-mediated airway inflammation; however, unexpectedly, IL-2C treatment exacerbated Th2-mediated allergic airway inflammation by inducing the selective expansion of Th2 cells and type-2 innate lymphoid cells. We also found that IL-2 signaling is required for the expansion of Th2 cells in lymphoproliferative disease caused by Treg cell depletion. Our data suggest that IL-2C is selectively applicable to the treatment of allergic airway diseases depending on the characteristics of airway inflammation. [BMB Reports 2019; 52(4): 283-288].

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / immunology
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / pharmacology
  • Asthma / immunology
  • Asthma / therapy
  • Cytokines / immunology
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / immunology*
  • Hypersensitivity / immunology
  • Immune Tolerance / immunology
  • Immunity, Innate / immunology
  • Interleukin-2 / immunology*
  • Interleukin-2 / pharmacology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Respiratory Hypersensitivity / immunology*
  • Respiratory Hypersensitivity / therapy*
  • Th17 Cells / immunology
  • Th2 Cells / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Cytokines
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • Foxp3 protein, mouse
  • Interleukin-2