Use of low dose IL-2 for treating autoimmune related or inflammatory disorders
The present invention relates to novel therapies for treating autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. More specifically, the present invention relates to a use of low dose interleukin-2 for the treatment of type I diabetes and other autoimmune and/or inflammatory diseases.
1. A method for treating systemic lupus erythematous erythematosus, the method comprising:
subcutaneously administering to a human subject in need thereof an effective amount of interleukin-2 (IL-2) at a dose of no more than between 0.1 MIU/day and 3.5 MIU/day, wherein the IL-2 is administered in a first course of treatment followed by a maintenance dose, wherein the first course of treatment consists of an administration of the IL-2 once per day for at least 3 consecutive days, and wherein the maintenance dose is given to the human subject once a week, once a month, or twice a month.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject is administered IL-2 at a dose of 1 MIU/day to 3.5 MIU/day.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject is administered IL-2 at a dose of 1.5 MIU/day to 3.5 MIU/day.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject is administered IL-2 at a dose of 0.5 MIU/day to 1.5 MIU/day.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject is administered IL-2 at a dose of 1.5 MIU/day.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject is administered des-alanyl-1, serine-125 human interleukin-2.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first course of treatment consists of an administration of the IL 2 once per day for at least 5 consecutive days.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first course of treatment consists of an administration of the IL 2 once per day for 3 to 7 days.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the maintenance dose is administered one to four weeks after the last dose of the first course of treatment.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the maintenance dose is administered twice a month.
11. A method for stimulating regulatory T lymphocytes (Tregs) in a human subject suffering from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the method comprising:
subcutaneously administering to the subject an effective amount of interleukin-2 (IL-2) at a dose of between 0.1 MIU/day and 3.5 MIU/day, wherein the IL-2 is administered in a first course of treatment followed by a maintenance dose, wherein the first course of treatment consists of an administration of the IL-2 once per day for at least 3 days, and wherein the maintenance dose is given to the human subject once a week, once a month, or twice a month.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the subject is administered IL-2 at a dose of 1 MIU/day to 3.5 MIU/day.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the subject is administered IL-2 at a dose of 1.5 MIU/day to 3.5 MIU/day.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the subject is administered IL-2 at a dose of 0.5 MIU/day to 1.5 MIU/day.
15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the subject is administered IL-2 at a dose of 1.5 MIU/day.
16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the subject is administered des-alanyl-1, serine-125 human interleukin-2.
17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first course of treatment consists of an administration of the IL-2 once per day for at least 5 consecutive days.
18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first course of treatment consists of an administration of the IL-2 once per day for 3 to 7 days.
19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the maintenance dose is administered one to four weeks after the last dose of the first course of treatment.
20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the maintenance dose is administered twice a month.