Immunosuppression of collagen-induced arthritis in mice with an anti-IL-2 receptor antibody.

The use of an anti-IL-2R antibody, 7D4, was investigated in vivo in the suppression of collagen-induced arthritis in mice. 7D4 was shown to reduce the incidence of arthritis in a group of mice immunized with type II collagen as compared with a group similarly immunized with collagen and treated with a control isotype matched anti-Forsmann antibody. 7D4 was also shown to reduce the severity of arthritis in the treated mice as compared to the mice in the group treated with the control antibody. Anti-IL-2R antibodies may be useful in the treatment of autoimmune diseases by selectively suppressing activated T cells.