Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is a rare, systemic autoimmune disorder characterized by episodic inflammation of cartilaginous structures. Pro-inflammatory chemokines involved in the recruitment of monocytes and modulation of macrophage function, such as monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, macrophage inflammatory protein 1β, and interleukin (IL)-8, are significantly elevated in active RP compared with controls.The activation of monocytes and macrophages may play an important role in the pathophysiology of RP. The levels of serum Th1 cytokines (interferon, IL-2 (IL-2) and IL-12 (IL-12) were significantly correlated with disease status,which suggested that RP may be a Th1-mediated disease process. IL-2 is a kind of lymphocyte growth factor. At lower doses, regulatory T cells exhibit dominant amplification because of their more sensitivity to IL-2. Regulatory T cells can inhibit the growth of effector T cells and then play an immunosuppressive role. The investigators hypothesized that low-dose IL-2 could be a novel therapy in active RP patients. This clinical study will explore the efficacy and immunological evaluation of low dose IL-2 in the treatment of RP.
Ten patients with active RP at 18 to 70 years of age were enrolled. Without changing the original treatment plan, IL-2 1 million units was administered subcutaneously five days every week for 4 weeks and then once a week for 8 weeks. The clinical symptoms, disease score scale, laboratory parameters, immune cell subsets and cytokines should be monitored during the treatment.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
10
low dose interleukin-2 injected subcutaneously, at a dose of 1 million IU five days per week for 4 weeks (day1-5, 8-12, 15-19, 22-26) and then once a week for 8 weeks (day33, 40, 47, 54, 61, 68, 75, 82).
Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Peking University People's Hospital
Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China
Foxp3+Treg cells: change in percentage of total lymphocytes
Treg refers to regulatory T cells
Time frame: week 12
Relapsing Polychondritis Disease Activity Index
Relapsing Polychondritis Disease Activity Index
Time frame: week 12
safety assessment
Adverse events includes injection site reactions, influenza-like symptoms, infection, fever, tumor,drug-induced liver and kidney damage.
Time frame: week 12
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