Purpose Interleukin-15 (IL-15) has significant potential in cancer immunotherapy as an activator of antitumor CD8 T and natural killer (NK) cells. The primary objectives of this trial were to determine safety, adverse event profile, dose-limiting toxicity, and maximum-tolerated dose of recombinant human IL-15 (rhIL-15) administered as a daily intravenous bolus infusion for 12 consecutive days in patients with metastatic malignancy. Patients and Methods We performed a first in-human trial of Escherichia coli–produced rhIL-15. Bolus infusions of 3.0, 1.0, and 0.3 μg/kg per day of IL-15 were administered for 12 consecutive days to patients with metastatic malignant melanoma or metastatic renal cell cancer. Results Flow cytometry of peripheral blood lymphocytes revealed dramatic efflux of NK and memory CD8 T cells from the circulating blood within minutes of IL-15 administration, followed by influx and hyperproliferation yielding 10-fold expansions of NK cells that ultimately returned to baseline. Up to 50-fold increases of serum levels of multiple inflammatory cytokines were observed. Dose-limiting toxicities observed in patients receiving 3.0 and 1.0 μg/kg per day were grade 3 hypotension, thrombocytopenia, and elevations of ALT and AST, resulting in 0.3 μg/kg per day being determined the maximum-tolerated dose. Indications of activity included clearance of lung lesions in two patients. Conclusion IL-15 could be safely administered to patients with metastatic malignancy. IL-15 administration markedly altered homeostasis of lymphocyte subsets in blood, with NK cells and γδ cells most dramatically affected, followed by CD8 memory T cells. To reduce toxicity and increase efficacy, alternative dosing strategies have been initiated, including continuous intravenous infusions and subcutaneous IL-15 administration.

Late-phase human T-cell lymphotropic virus

In early phases of human T-cell lymphotropic virus I-induced adult T-cel luemia (ATL), the malignant cell proliferation is acted with an autocrine process Involving coordinate esso of interleukin (IL) 2 and its r or.

The interleukin 2 (IL-2) receptor system plays a key role in the T-cell immune response. Although IL-2 binding was reported to be restricted to the Tac peptide, we have identified an IL-2 binding peptide that does not react with anti-human IL-2 receptor monoclonal antibodies, including anti-Tac on MLA 144, a gibbon ape T-cell line. The MLA 144 cell line expressed 6800 IL-2 binding sites per cell with a low (Kd = 14 nM) affinity for human recombinant IL-2. Using cross-linking methodology, we demonstrated that the IL-2 binding peptide on MLA 144 is larger (Mr 75,000) than the Tac peptide, which has a Mr of 55,000. An IL-2 binding peptide of similar size (Mr 75,000) was also identified in addition to the Tac peptide (Mr 54,000-57,000) on Hut 102, a human T-cell lymphotrophic virus I-induced T-cell leukemia line, and phytohemagglutinin-activated normal human and gibbon ape lymphoblasts. Anti-Tac antibody did not block the binding of 125I-labeled IL-2 to MLA 144 cells. However, this antibody abolished the binding of 125I-labeled IL-2 not only to the Tac peptide on Hut 102 cells and normal lymphoblasts but also to the Mr 75,000 IL-2 binding peptide, suggesting that this latter peptide is associated with the Tac peptide to form the high-affinity IL-2 receptor complex.

The private ␣-chains of IL-2 and IL-15 receptors (IL-2R and IL-15R) share the signaling ␤-and ␥c-subunits, resulting in both common and contrasting roles of IL-2 and IL-15 in T cell function. Knowledge of the cytokine-dependent subunit assembly is indispensable for understanding the paradox of distinct signaling capacities. By using fluorescence resonance energy transfer and confocal microscopy, we have shown that IL-2R␣, IL-15R␣, IL-2͞15R␤ and ␥ csubunits, as well as MHC class I and II glycoproteins formed supramolecular receptor clusters in lipid rafts of the T lymphoma line Kit 225 FT7.10. Fluorescence crosscorrelation microscopy demonstrated the comobility of IL-15R␣ with IL-2R␣ and MHC class I. A model was generated for subunit switching between IL-2R␣ and IL-15R␣ upon the binding of the appropriate cytokine resulting in the formation of high-affinity heterotrimeric receptors. This model suggests a direct role for the ␣-subunits, to which no definite function has been assigned so far, in tuning cellular responses to IL-2 or IL-15. In addition, both ␣-chains were at least partially homodimerized͞oligomerized, which could be the basis of distinct signaling pathways by the two cytokines.

No abstract

To evaluate the safety and potential therapeutic activity of humanized anti-IL-2 receptor mAb (Daclizumab) therapy in the treatment of patients with severe, sight-threatening, intermediate and posterior noninfectious uveitis, a nonrandomized, open-label, pilot study was performed. Patients with uveitis were treated with a minimum of 20 mg of prednisone, cyclosporine, antimetabolites, or any combination of these agents were eligible. Patients were weaned off their systemic immunosuppressive agents according to a standardized schedule, while ultimately receiving Daclizumab infusions every 4 weeks. Anti-IL-2 receptor antibody therapy, given intravenously with intervals of up to 4 weeks in lieu of standard immunosuppressive therapy, appeared to prevent the expression of severe sight-threatening intraocular inf lammatory disease in 8 of 10 patients treated over a 12-month period, with noted improvements in visual acuity. One patient met a primary endpoint with a loss of vision of 10 letters or more from baseline in one eye and another patient discontinued therapy because of evidence of increased ocular inf lammation. All patients were able to tolerate the study medications without the need for dose reduction. We report effective long-term use of anti-IL-2 therapy for an autoimmune indication. These initial findings would suggest that anti-IL-2 receptor therapy may be an effective therapeutic approach for uveitis and, by implication, other disorders with a predominant Th1 profile.

Adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) is an aggressive malignancy without a cure. Louis Staudt and colleagues identified gain-of-function mutations in the chemokine receptor CCR4 in ATLL patient samples. The mutations increased cell migration and conferred a growth advantage in ATLL cells. The findings implicate CCR4 mutations in the pathogenesis of ATLL and suggest that inhibition of CCR4 signaling may provide therapeutic potential.