Interleukin-2 (Il-2):
A cytokine secreted by Th1 CD4 cells to stimulate CD8 cytotoxic T lymphocytes. IL-2 also increases the proliferation and maturation of the CD4 cells themselves. During HIV infection, IL-2 production gradually declines. Commercially, IL-2 is produced by recombinant DNA technology and is approved by the FDA for the treatment of metastatic renal (i.e., kidney) cell cancer. Recent data suggest that therapy with subcutaneous IL-2, in combination with antiretroviral drugs, has the potential to halt the usual progression of HIV disease by maintaining an individual's CD4+ T cell count in the normal range for prolonged periods of time.
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