Anti-arthritic effects demonstrated by an interleukin-2 receptor-targeted cytotoxin (DAB486IL-2) in rat adjuvant arthritis.

DAB486IL-2 is an interleukin-2 receptor-specific cytotoxin which selectively targets and kills cells which bear the high-affinity form of the IL-2 receptor. Since elimination of activated T lymphocytes may be useful in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, the effect of DAB486IL-2 treatment in an animal model of arthritis was investigated. We demonstrated that rats treated with DAB486IL-2 during the induction phase of disease have delayed onset of symptoms and significantly reduced severity of inflammation as well as a depressed proliferative response to mycobacterial stimulation in vitro. In addition, the presence of preexisting antibodies to the molecule had no impact on the anti-arthritic effects observed in this model. These data suggest that DAB486IL-2 may have therapeutic potential in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.