IL‐2 infusion abrogates humoral immune responses in humans

D. J. GOTTLIEB, H. G. PRENTICE, H. E. HESLOP, C. BELLO, M. K. BRENNER

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

Although IL-2 infusion enhances cell-mediated cytotoxicity in patients with neoplastic disease, administration is paradoxically associated with a modest fall in total serum IgG and an increased risk of infection. We now show that the adverse effects of IL-2 infusion on the humoral immune system are substantial. Although IL-2 induces the B cell growth and differentiating factors IL-4 and IL-6, infusion abrogates primary antibody responses entirely and reduces secondary antibody responses 50-fold following antigen challenge. There is no evidence of the generation of cells with suppressive activity on B cells but IL-2 increases the ratio of circulating virgin: memory cells. These results may help to explain the increased rate of bacterial infection in patients receiving IL-2. As IL-2 plays a central role in the generation of an immune response, the finding that it is also sufficiently immunosuppressive to inhibit primary- and secondary-type antibody responses suggests that exploration of the underlying mechanisms may provide insights into immune system homeostasis and may offer new approaches to therapeutic immunosuppression.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)493-498
Number of pages6
JournalClinical & Experimental Immunology
Volume87
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1992

Keywords

  • B cells
  • humoral responses
  • IL-2
  • immunoglobulin

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology

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