Type I Diabetes-Associated Tolerogenic Properties of Interleukin-2

Abstract EN

Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) results from insulin-producing beta cells destruction by diabetogenic T lymphocytes in humans and nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice.

The breakdown of tolerance has been associated with a defect in the number and the function of naturally occurring regulatory T cells (nTreg) that are the master player in peripheral tolerance.

Gene knockout experiments in mouse models have shown a nonredundant activity of IL-2 related to its critical role in inducing nTreg and controlling peripheral T cell tolerance.

Whereas strong evidence has suggested that IL-2 is critically required for nTreg-mediated T1D control, several fundamental questions remain to be addressed.

In this paper, we highlight the recent findings and controversies regarding the tolerogenic properties of IL-2 mediated through nTreg.

We further discuss a potential link between the immunomodulatory role of interleukin-2 and the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes.