Humanized anti-CD25 antibody treatment with daclizumab in multiple sclerosis.

Monoclonal antibodies against a variety of receptors and molecules are currently being introduced in clinical medicine. One of these targets is the interleukin-2 receptor alpha-chain CD25. The humanized monoclonal anti-CD25 antibody daclizumab (Zenapax) has been approved several years ago for the prevention of allotransplant rejection and adult T cell leukemia. Following promising observations in uveitis, daclizumab has been tested in a number of small clinical trials in multiple sclerosis based on the rationale that blocking CD25 would prevent the expansion of autoreactive T lymphocytes. The data from this preliminary clinical exploration as well as findings about the mechanism of action of anti-CD25 treatment are summarized in this study.