scholarly journals SAT0181 Low dose interleukin-2 combined with tocilizumab selectively increases regulatory t cells helping refractory rheumatoid arthritis patients achieve remission more rapidly

Author(s):  
Z Sheng-Xiao ◽  
M Xiao-Wen ◽  
L Xiao-Qing ◽  
M Miao ◽  
W Xiao-Yan ◽  
...  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheng-Xiao Zhang ◽  
Jia Wang ◽  
Cai-Hong Wang ◽  
Rui-Huan Jia ◽  
Ming Yan ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Circulating regulatory T cells (Tregs) are responsible for mediating immune tolerance and maintaining immunological homeostasis. Decreases in Tregs may be involved in the onset of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Low-dose interleukin-2 (IL-2) has been considered for the treatment of inflammatory diseases mediated by T cells. This study focused on the status of circulating CD4+T subsets and the clinical feasibility of IL-2 therapies in patients with RA.Methods The subjects included 888 patients with RA and 100 healthy controls (HCs); 233 RA patients received IL-2 treatment of at 0.5 million international units (MIU)/day from days 1 through 5. The demographic features, disease activity, and levels of CD4+T cells measured by modified flow cytometry were collected in all RA patients before and after treatment.Results RA patients had lower absolute Treg counts (but not Th17) compared with HCs, which was associated with disease activity; previously treated RA patients had the fewest circulating Tregs (P < 0.05). Patients treated with low-dose IL-2 had a three-fold increase in absolute anti-inflammatory Treg counts, as well as a two-fold increase in the other CD4+T subsets. Moreover, post-treatment levels of markers of disease activity in RA patients treated with IL-2 were significantly lower than the baseline values (P < 0.001), with no apparent side effects.Conclusions Decreased absolute counts of circulating CD4+T lymphocyte subsets were observed in patients with RA. Circulating Tregs, which mediate immune tolerance, may be involved in the pathogenesis and progression of RA; however, this was ameliorated by low-dose IL-2, without obvious side effects.


2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 237.1-238
Author(s):  
M. Rosenzwajg ◽  
R. Lorenzon ◽  
P. Cacoub ◽  
F. Pitoiset ◽  
S. Aractingi ◽  
...  

Background:Regulatory T cells (Tregs) prevent autoimmunity and control inflammation. As low-dose interleukin-2 (ld-IL2) expands and activates Tregs, it has a broad therapeutic potential for any autoimmune or inflammatory disease (AIID). We performed a disease-finding “basket trial” (TRANSREGNCT01988506) in patients affected by one of 11 different AIID and reported the outcome of the first 46 patients (Rosenzwajg et al, ARD 2019).Objectives:Here we analyzed and discussed results from deep immunophenotyping, of 78 patients, to comprehensively study the effect of ld-IL2 on the immune system of patients affected by various AIIDMethods:We performed a prospective, open label, phase I-IIa study in 78 patients with a mild to moderate form of one of 13 selected AIID. All patients received ld-IL2 (1 million IU/day) for 5 days, followed by fortnightly injections for 6 months. Deep immunophenotyping was performed before and after 5 days of ld-IL2.Results:ld-IL2 significantly expands both memory Tregs as well as naïve Tregs, including recent thymic emigrant Tregs. It also activates Tregs as demonstrated by the significantly increased expression of HLA-DR, CD39, CD73, GITR, CTLA-4. Similar results were observed across the different AIID.Conclusion:ld-IL2 “universally” improves Treg fitness across 13 autoimmune and inflammatory disease.References:[1]Rosenzwajg M#, Lorenzon R#, Cacoub P, Pham HP, Pitoiset F, El Soufi K, RIbet C, Bernard C, Aractingi S, Banneville B, Beaugerie L, Berenbaum F, Champey J, Chazouilleres O, Corpechot C, Fautrel B, Mekinian A, Regnier E, Saadoun D, Salem JE, Sellam J, Seksik P, Daguenel-Nguyen A, Doppler V, Mariau J, Vicaut E, Klatzmann D. Immunological and clinical effects of low-dose interleukin-2 across 11 autoimmune diseases in a single, open clinical trial. Ann Rheum Dis. 2019 Feb;78(2):209-217. doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2018-214229. Epub 2018 Nov 24.Disclosure of Interests:Michelle Rosenzwajg: None declared, Roberta Lorenzon: None declared, Patrice cacoub: None declared, Fabien Pitoiset: None declared, Selim Aractingi: None declared, Beatrice Banneville Speakers bureau: Lilly, Novartis, Laurent Beaugerie: None declared, Francis Berenbaum Grant/research support from: TRB Chemedica (through institution), MSD (through institution), Pfizer (through institution), Consultant of: Novartis, MSD, Pfizer, Lilly, UCB, Abbvie, Roche, Servier, Sanofi-Aventis, Flexion Therapeutics, Expanscience, GSK, Biogen, Nordic, Sandoz, Regeneron, Gilead, Bone Therapeutics, Regulaxis, Peptinov, 4P Pharma, Paid instructor for: Sandoz, Speakers bureau: Novartis, MSD, Pfizer, Lilly, UCB, Abbvie, Roche, Servier, Sanofi-Aventis, Flexion Therapeutics, Expanscience, GSK, Biogen, Nordic, Sandoz, Regeneron, Gilead, Sandoz, Julien Champey: None declared, Olivier Chazouilleres: None declared, Christophe Corpechot: None declared, Bruno Fautrel Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Lilly, MSD, Pfizer, Consultant of: AbbVie, Biogen, BMS, Boehringer Ingelheim, Celgene, Lilly, Janssen, Medac MSD France, Nordic Pharma, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi Aventis, SOBI and UCB, Arsene Mekinian: None declared, Elodie Regnier: None declared, david Saadoun: None declared, Joe-Elie Salem: None declared, Jérémie SELLAM: None declared, Philippe Seksik: None declared, David Klatzmann Consultant of: ILTOO Pharma


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 1759720X2110113
Author(s):  
Sheng-Xiao Zhang ◽  
Jia Wang ◽  
Cai-Hong Wang ◽  
Rui-Huan Jia ◽  
Ming Yan ◽  
...  

Background: Circulating regulatory T cells (Tregs) are responsible for mediating immune tolerance and maintaining immunological homeostasis. Decreases in Tregs may be involved in the onset of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Low-dose interleukin-2 (IL-2) has been considered for the treatment of inflammatory diseases mediated by T cells. This study focused on the status of circulating CD4+T subsets and the clinical feasibility of IL-2 therapies in patients with RA. Methods: The subjects included 888 patients with RA and 100 healthy controls (HCs); 233 RA patients received IL-2 treatment with 0.5 million international units (MIU)/day from days 1 through 5. The demographic features, disease activity, and levels of CD4+T cells measured by modified flow cytometry were collected in all RA patients before and after treatment. Results: RA patients had lower absolute Treg counts (but not Th17) compared with HCs, which was associated with disease activity; previously treated RA patients had the fewest circulating Tregs ( p < 0.05). Patients treated with low-dose IL-2 had a three-fold increase in absolute anti-inflammatory Treg counts, as well as a two-fold increase in the other CD4+T subsets. Moreover, post-treatment levels of markers of disease activity in RA patients treated with IL-2 were significantly lower than the baseline values ( p < 0.001), with no apparent side effects. Conclusion: Decreased absolute counts of circulating CD4+T lymphocyte subsets were observed in patients with RA. Circulating Tregs, which mediate immune tolerance, may be involved in the pathogenesis and progression of RA; however, this was ameliorated by low-dose IL-2, without obvious side effects. Plain language summary Low-dose IL-2 treatment for rheumatoid arthritis • Circulating Tregs may be involved in the pathogenesis and progression of RA. • The absolute count of Tregs was significantly correlated with disease activity measures. • Low-dose IL-2 was able to effectively expade Tregs and help for RA patients’ symptoms remission without evaluated side effects.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 204062232091601 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jia Wang ◽  
Sheng-Xiao Zhang ◽  
Yu-Fei Hao ◽  
Meng-Ting Qiu ◽  
Jing Luo ◽  
...  

Background: Although regulatory T cells (Tregs) play crucial roles in the maintenance of immune hemostasis, the numbers of peripheral Tregs in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) remain unclear. We measured these numbers and the efficacy and safety of low-dose interleukin-2 (IL-2) therapy. Methods: We recruited 95 PsA patients, of whom 22 received subcutaneous low-dose IL-2 [0.5 million international units (MIU) per day for 5 days] combined with conventional therapies. The absolute numbers of cells in peripheral CD4+ T cell subsets were measured via modified flow cytometry. Clinical and laboratory indicators were compared before and after treatment. Results: PsA patients had lower peripheral Treg numbers than healthy controls ( p < 0.01), correlating significantly and negatively with the levels of disease indicators ( p < 0.05). Although low-dose IL-2 significantly increased the Th17 and Treg numbers in PsA patients compared with the baseline values, the Treg numbers rose much more rapidly than those of Th17 cells, re-balancing the Th17 and Treg proportions. Low-dose IL-2 combination therapy rapidly reduced PsA disease activities as indicated by the DAS28 instrument, thus the number of tender joints, visual analog scale pain, physician global assessment, the dermatology life quality index score, and the health assessment questionnaire score (all p < 0.05). Conclusion: PsA patients exhibited low Treg numbers. Low-dose IL-2 combination treatment increased these numbers and relieved disease activity without any apparent side effects. Additional studies are required to explore the long-term immunoregulatory utility of IL-2 treatment.


2018 ◽  
Vol 68 ◽  
pp. S460-S461
Author(s):  
T.Y. Lim ◽  
E. Codela ◽  
E. Gray ◽  
M. Heneghan ◽  
M. Martinez-Llordella ◽  
...  

Blood ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 116 (21) ◽  
pp. 895-895
Author(s):  
Ken-ichi Matsuoka ◽  
John Koreth ◽  
Haesook T. Kim ◽  
O. Gregory Bascug ◽  
Sean McDonough ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 895 CD4+FoxP3+ regulatory T cells (Treg) play a central role in the maintenance of tolerance after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and recent studies have demonstrated that Treg deficiency leads to the development of chronic GHVD (cGVHD). Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is known to promote thymic generation and maintenance of peripheral Treg and IL-2 deficiency results in a profound deficiency of Treg in vivo. Based on these findings we initiated a clinical trial to evaluate the safety, clinical efficacy and immunologic effects of low dose recombinant IL-2 in patients with steroid-refractory cGVHD. We recently reported the clinical outcomes of this trial demonstrating that IL-2 administration preferentially increased Treg in patients with active cGVHD and resulted in clinical improvement with only minor toxicities (Koreth et al, ASBMT 2010). However, the mechanisms responsible for Treg expansion in patients during IL-2 administration have not been characterized. To elucidate these mechanisms, we examined phenotypic and functional characteristics of Treg in 14 patients who received daily subcutaneous IL-2 (3×105-3×106IU/m2/day) for 8 weeks. Peripheral blood samples were obtained before and at 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 weeks after starting IL-2. Treg were compared to conventional CD4+FoxP3- T cells (Tcon) within individual patient samples and examined for expression of Ki-67, PD-1 and BCL-2. In some experiments, Treg and Tcon were further divided into subpopulations by the expression of CD45RA and CD31. Absolute numbers of functionally suppressive Treg increased 5-fold in the first 4 weeks of therapy. Treg numbers then slowly decreased despite continued IL-2 therapy, but remained 2-fold higher than baseline at 8 weeks. Absolute numbers of Tcon increased 2-fold in the first 4 weeks and then returned to baseline levels at 8 weeks. This resulted in a sustained increase of Treg/Tcon ratio for the entire duration of therapy, which persisted for at least 4 weeks after treatment was completed. Plasma IL-2 levels peaked at 1 week and gradually declined despite continued treatment at the same dose. Nevertheless, IL-2 levels remained significantly higher than baseline throughout treatment (median 1.4pg/ml at baseline and 18.1pg/ml at 8 weeks, p<0.05). The proliferative response to IL-2 was examined by measuring expression of Ki-67 in each subset. Initially, Ki-67 expression in Treg rapidly increased in an IL-2 dose-dependent manner. Ki-67 also increased in Tcon but at a significantly lower level (median 20.0% Treg vs 6.7% Tcon, p=0.0001). Increased Ki-67 was seen in both CD45RA+CD31+ recent thymic emigrant Treg (RTE-Treg) and CD45RA- activated/memory Treg (MEM-Treg) at similar levels (median 20.1% and 18.5%, respectively, p=0.54). Treg proliferation peaked in the first week of IL-2, and rapidly returned to baseline levels in weeks 2–3. Despite changes in proliferation, the absolute number of RTE-Treg remained significantly elevated (median 1.05/ul at baseline, 9.43/ul at 4 weeks, p=0.001). In contrast, the absolute number of RTE-Tcon did not change. Phenotypic analysis of Treg showed that expression of both PD-1 and BCL-2 increased during IL-2 therapy (%PD-1+ Treg; median 15.7% at baseline and 38.3% at 8 weeks, p=0.02: relative BCL-2 MFI; median 1.00 at baseline and 1.59 at 8 weeks, p=0.04). To determine the functional effects of these changes on susceptibility to apoptosis, Treg and Tcon were purified and cultured with or without agonistic FAS antibody, and apoptosis was measured using Annexin-V staining. Remarkably, Treg obtained during IL-2 therapy were relatively resistant to apoptosis compared to baseline. In summary, these results indicate that the selective expansion of Treg during prolonged IL-2 administration is characterized by a series of homeostatic changes. Initial high levels of IL-2 lead to selective and rapid Treg proliferation. Treg proliferation is not maintained as numbers of Treg increase and IL-2 levels decrease. Subsequent maintenance of increased Treg appears to be mediated primarily by increased resistance to apoptosis and prolonged survival. Increased thymic output of Treg also appears to support this peripheral homeostatic process. These findings demonstrate the complex effects of IL-2 on Treg homeostasis and provide important information for developing strategies to promote immune tolerance. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1823.2-1823
Author(s):  
Y. Wu ◽  
X. C. Zhao ◽  
J. Luo

Background:Little known about the roles of peripheral immune cell subsets in IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD).Objectives:The aim of our study was to analyze the role of low-dose interleukin-2 (ld-IL2) on these cells in IgG4-RD.Methods:The percentage and absolute counts of lymphocyte subpopulations [CD3+ (T cells), CD4+, CD8+, CD19+ (B cells) and CD16+CD56+ (NK cells)] and CD4+T cell subsets (Th1, Th2, Th17, regulatory T (Treg)) using single platform flow cytometry in 25 IgG4-RD patients which were admitted and treated, as well as 24 healthy controls (HCs). Among IgG4-RD patients, 19 patients given only conventional treatments while 5 patients were were not only given conventional treatments but also received ld-IL2 (0.5 million IU/day) for 5 days.Results:We found that the absolute counts of T, CD4+T and Th1 cells were increased in the peripheral immune cells of IgG4-RD patients when compared with HCs. Meanwhile, the percentage of B, Th2, Th17 and Treg cells demonstrated significantly decreased. The ratio of Th1/Th2 and Th1/Treg in IgG4-RD patients were higher than that in HCs. After IL-2 administration, the absolute numbers of Treg cells increased dramatically, furthermore, the proportion of Treg cells had a trend towards higher values compared with those before treatment. Conversely, the ratio of Th2/Treg was downward. There were no any significant differences in the above subsets between before and after conventional treatments.Conclusion:Our findings support that the reduction of Treg cells in IgG4-RD patients, as well as ld-IL2 combined with conventional treatments were able to restore the Treg cells.References:[1]Akiyama M, Sasaki T, Kaneko Y, et al. Serum soluble interleukin-2 receptor is a useful biomarker for disease activity but not for differential diagnosis in IgG4-related disease and primary Sjögren’s syndrome adults from a defined population. Clin Exp Rheumatol, 2018.[2]Zhang SX, Wang J, Sun HH et al. Circulating regulatory T cells were absolutely decreased in dermatomyositis/polymyositis patients and restored by low-dose IL-2. Ann Rheum Dis, 2019.Disclosure of Interests:None declared


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