Interleukin-2 as a therapeutic agent.

Abstract

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) belongs to a class of soluble, regulatory proteins known as cytokines. It is a 133 amino acid glycoprotein secreted by T(H) lymphocytes and other cells following activation by antigens, mitogens and other cytokines. It stimulates the proliferation and cytotoxicity of T lymphocytes. It also enhances the microbicidal and cytotoxic activities of NK cells, B lymphocytes, macrophages and monocytes. IL-2 can now be produced in unlimited quantities by recombinant DNA technology and used therapeutically to modulate the immune system in a number of diseases. A number of different studies have demonstrated its therapeutic value in HIV +ve and AIDS patients. It has been approved by US-FDA for treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and metastatic melanoma. Routine detection of soluble IL-2 receptor in blood could be useful as a diagnostic marker in some autoimmune diseases. Agents that antagonize IL-2 find application as immunosuppressants. The main adverse effect of IL-2 is capillary leak syndrome caused by increased capillary permeability and extravasation of fluid. In days to come, IL-2 is likely to play an increasingly important role in management of viral infections, malignancies and a number of other diseases conditions.

• Authors: N S Sule, R P Nerurkar, S Kamath
• Journal: The Journal of the Association of Physicians of India (J Assoc Physicians India) Vol. 49 Pg. 897-900 (Sep 2001) ISSN: 0004-5772 [Print] India
• PMID: 11837757 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Interleukin-2

Topics

• Administration, Oral
• Clinical Trials as Topic
• Communicable Diseases (diagnosis, drug therapy)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Drug Administration Schedule
• Humans
• Infusions, Intravenous
• Injections, Subcutaneous
• Interleukin-2 (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Neoplasms (diagnosis, drug therapy)
• Sensitivity and Specificity
• Treatment Outcome