Cutting Edge: In Vivo Blockade of Human IL-2 Receptor Induces Expansion of CD56bright Regulatory NK Cells in Patients with Active Uveitis

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Abstract
In vivo blockade of the human IL-2R by mAb has been used for immunosuppression in transplantation, therapy for leukemia, and autoimmune diseases. In this study, we report that administration of a humanized IL-2R blocking Ab induced a 4- to 20-fold expansion of CD56bright regulatory NK cells in uveitis patients over time. The induced CD56bright regulatory NK cells from patients exhibited similar phenotype as those naturally occurring CD56bright cells. Patients with active uveitis had a significantly lower level of CD56bright NK cells compared with normal donors (p < 0.01). In addition, the induced CD56bright cells could secrete large amounts of IL-10 whereas CD56dim NK cells could not, suggesting that the induction of the CD56bright cells may have a beneficial effect on the remission of active uveitis. Our observation may have implications to IL-2R blockade therapy and for the potential role of CD56bright regulatory NK cells in autoimmune diseases.