01386nas a2200229   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653001200055653001900067653001100086653001800097653001200115653002500127653001700152100001600169700001800185245008000203300001000283490000600293520084300299022001401142       1993                            d  c1993 Dec10aAnimals10aHIV Infections10aHumans10aInterleukin-210aleprosy10aRecombinant Proteins10aTuberculosis1 aGiedlin M A1 aZimmerman R J00aThe use of recombinant human interleukin-2 in treating infectious diseases.  a722-60 v43 a<p>Data from animal models indicate that interleukin-2 is potentially valuable in the treatment of a variety of infectious diseases of viral, fungal, protozoal, bacterial, and mycobacterial origin. The role of interleukin-2 in resistance to infection with human immunodeficiency virus or Mycobacterium leprae (the causative agent of leprosy) has recently been studied in detail. Data from animal models and clinical trials indicate that relatively low doses of interleukin-2 effectively stabilize or reverse the course of these infections. The recent characterization of Th1 and Th2 helper T cells, and their relationship to the control of infectious diseases, are revealing the mechanisms involved in producing disease. Increased understanding of these mechanisms may help extend interleukin-2 therapy to other clinical applications.</p>  a0958-1669