Low-dose IL-2 in the treatment of immune-related diseases

Abstract

Since the discovery of interleukin-2 (IL-2) in 1979, increasing attention has been focused on its role in regulating immune function. IL-2 has been found to play an important role in maintaining autoimmune tolerance, and it is essential for the proliferation and differentiation of regulatory T cells (Treg) cells. Other studies have found that the role of IL-2 in vivo is closely related to its concentration. Low-dose IL-2 selectively stimulates the proliferation of Treg cells in vivo, while high-dose IL-2 primarily promotes the proliferation of effector T cells. In view of these findings, an increasing number of studies have focused on the use of low-dose IL-2 in the treatment of immune-related diseases in recent years. The results have been encouraging, with mild adverse reactions. This article mainly focuses on the latest progress made in the IL-2 treatment of immune-related diseases and its regulatory effect on the immune status in different diseases, providing a reference for the rational clinical application of IL-2.