Long-Term Low-Dose IL-2 Enhances Immune Function in Common Variable Immunodeficiency

Interleukin-21 restores immunoglobulin production ex vivo in patients with common variable immunodeficiency and selective IgA deficiency

“…13,14 Immunomodulatory intervention with low doses of IL-2 has shown promise in vivo, despite insufficient evidence and proof of safety to support its routine use. [15][16][17][18] Human interleukin-21 (IL-21) is a 4-helix-bundle cytokine of the ␥ c family that is expressed exclusively by activated CD4 ϩ T cells, including the recently discovered Th17 cells. [19][20][21] IL-21 exerts variable and sometimes contrasting effects on natural killer, T, and B cells.…”

Common variable immunodeficiency is associated with defective functions of dendritic cells

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] The fact that some patients' B cells can secrete immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG in vitro, while these patients are hypogammaglobulinemic in vivo, implies that B cells may not receive appropriate signaling for class switch and affinity maturation [10][11][12] and that perturbed cellular interactions in germinal centers may be involved in the pathogenesis of the disease. Under physiologic conditions, immune responses are initiated in the T-cell areas of secondary lymphoid organs, where naive T cells encounter dendritic cells (DCs).…”

Bone Marrow Clonogenic Capability, Cytokine Production, and Thymic Output in Patients with Common Variable Immunodeficiency

“…Several studies have also shown positive effects of IL-2 on apoptosis; the addition of IL-2 to the lymphocyte cultures reduces apoptosis of PBMCs obtained from patients with secondary immunodeficiency (27). Recently, IL-2 was administered for a long period to CVID patients with associated numerous T cell defects, demonstrating a partial correction of cell-mediated immunity as well as of Ab production after immunization (28). In contrast, the suppressive effect of TNF-␣ on marrow progenitor cells has long been demonstrated and is mediated by affecting cell viability or by modulating the expression of numerous cytokine receptors on the cell surface (29).…”