Exogenous IL-2 Controls the Balance in Th1, Th17, and Treg Cell Distribution in Patients with Progressive Rheumatoid Arthritis Treated with TNF-Alpha Inhibitors

摘要: Interleukin-2 (IL-2) has been suggested to control Treg/Th17 balance. Recently, we reported a relationship of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) activity/progression with irreversible systemic Treg and Th1 defects including serum IL-2 shortage. Herein, explore the role in vitro stimulation rIL-2 observed immune alterations reversal. Patients stable or progressive RA were assigned methotrexate (MTX) group TNF-alpha inhibitors (iTNF) group, respectively. Flow cytometric analyses performed before after 6 months treatment. Circulating Th1, Th17, cells determined 72-h culture anti-CD3 + rIL-2. Before therapy, restored recently phenotypic Th cell alterations, except for enriched Th17 subset normalized as late therapy all patients. Under 6-month changed distribution only RA; despite enrichment, it revealed population defects, which completely reversed by exogenous added stimulating culture. Our paper shows that aggressive patients exhibiting shortage iTNF is capable promoting differentiation affected chronic activation, thus supporting its use combined strategy biologic treatment form RA.