Full Papers
Low-dose IL-2 effectively restored decreased regulatory T cells in patients with Behçet’s disease
X. Liu1, W. Li2, X. Liu3, J. Luo4, C. Gao5, X. Li6
- Department of Rheumatology, the Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China.
- Department of Rheumatology, the Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China.
- Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, China.
- Department of Rheumatology, the Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China.
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Rheumatology, the Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China. lxf_9859@sxmu.edu.cn
CER13221
2021 Vol.39, N°4
PI 0746, PF 0752
Full Papers
PMID: 32662405 [PubMed]
Received: 17/02/2020
Accepted : 05/06/2020
In Press: 10/07/2020
Published: 08/07/2021
Abstract
OBJECTIVES:
Although Behçet’s disease (BD) is associated with immune mechanisms, the changes in circulating lymphocytes, especially regulatory T (Treg) cells remain unclear. Furthermore, low dose IL-2 has been reported to promote the expansion of Treg cells. This study aimed to investigate the significance of these subsets in the pathogenesis and the effect of low dose IL-2 on BD.
METHODS:
Lymphocyte subsets and cytokines from 177 BD patients and 160 healthy controls (HCs) were characterised. Then the efficacy and safety of low dose IL-2 for refractory BD patients were explored.
RESULTS:
There was a decrease in the absolute number of Treg cells and IL-10 in patients, while no difference in Th1, Th2, Th17 cells or their related cytokines. Accordingly, the ratio of Th17/Treg cells in patients was greatly higher than those of healthy controls. Furthermore, circulating Treg levels were negatively correlated with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) and Behçet’s disease current activity form (BDCAF), respectively. Lastly, after IL-2 treatment, all subsets were increased to some degree, while only Treg cells were amplified more dramatically, with a four-fold increase. Meanwhile, we found that the symptoms were mitigated without observed side effects.
CONCLUSIONS:
BD might be triggered by the defect of immunotolerance with decreased Treg. Moreover, low-dose IL-2 proposes a potential treatment by restoring Treg and promoting rapidly remission.
