tellurium and Lupus-Erythematosus--Systemic

The role of the synthetic immunomodulator AS101 on the production of interleukin-2 (IL-2) by spleen cells of mice with SLE was investigated. BALB/c female mice, in which SLE was induced by immunization with the pathogenic idiotype of anti-DNA antibody 16/6 Id were treated with AS101 for 7 weeks 2 and 4 months after induction of the disease. The ability of the splenocytes of the mice with SLE to produce IL-2 was restored after administration of AS101. This effect was particularly impressive when the 7-week AS101 treatment was initiated 4 months after immunization. Despite its beneficial effect on IL-2 production, AS101 exerted no influence on the titres of autoantibodies in the sera of the mice. It also had no effect on clinical parameters of SLE, such as the increased sedimentation rate, proteinuria and low white blood cell counts. Our data indicate that defective IL-2 production in SLE is probably secondary to other disease processes and is not necessarily associated with the production of autoantibodies in this disorder.

Topics: Adjuvants, Immunologic; Animals; Antibodies, Antinuclear; Autoantibodies; Ethylenes; Female; Interleukin-2; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Receptors, Interleukin-2; Spleen; T-Lymphocytes; Tellurium

We studied the in vitro production of interleukin-2 (IL-2), the expression of IL-2 receptors, the absorption of IL-2, and spontaneously expanded suppressor cell function by mononuclear cells from 15 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and 15 healthy control subjects. These functions were studied in the presence or absence of AS-101, a recently described organotellurium compound with immunoregulatory properties. AS-101 was found to be non-toxic to cells from both patient and control groups; it increased the production of IL-2, elevated the percentage of Tac-positive cells even among cells that had been pre-treated with pronase, and ameliorated the absorption of IL-2. It also enhanced the suppressor cell function in cells from SLE patients. Since these functions are known to be defective in vitro in cells of SLE patients, and since preliminary testing of AS-101 in humans indicates that it is a safe drug, this immunoregulatory compound holds promise for a novel and effective treatment of SLE.

Topics: Adjuvants, Immunologic; Cells, Cultured; Ethylenes; Humans; Interleukin-2; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic; Receptors, Interleukin-2; T-Lymphocytes; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory; Tellurium