Regulatory T cells control toxicity in a humanized model of IL-2 therapy.

Li, Yan; Strick-Marchand, Helene; Lim, Ai Ing; Ren, Jiazi; Masse-Ranson, Guillemette; Jouvion, Gregory; Rogge, Lars; Lucas, Sophie et al. · Nat Commun · 2017

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

While patient selection and clinical management have reduced high-dose IL-2 (HDIL2) immunotherapy toxicities, the immune mechanisms that underlie HDIL2-induced morbidity remain unclear. Here we show that dose-dependent morbidity and mortality of IL-2 immunotherapy can be modeled in human immune system (HIS) mice. Depletion of human T cell subsets during the HDIL2 treatment reduces toxicity, pointing to the central function of T cells. Preferential expansion of effector T cells secondary to defective suppressive capacity of regulatory T (T<sub>reg</sub>) cells after HDIL2 therapy further underscores the importance of T<sub>reg</sub> in the maintenance of immune tolerance. IL-2 toxicity is induced by selective depletion or inhibition of T<sub>reg</sub> after LDIL2 therapy, and is ameliorated in HDIL2-treated HIS mice receiving the PIM-1 kinase inhibitor, Kaempferol. Modeling IL-2 pathophysiology in HIS mice offers a means to understand the functions of effector and regulatory T cells in immune-mediated toxicities associated with cancer immunotherapy.

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