Immunotherapy with low-dose IL-2 attenuates vascular injury in mice with diabetic and neovascular retinopathy by restoring the balance between Foxp3 Tregs and CD8 T cells

Abstract

Aims/hypothesis: Diabetic retinopathy features damage to the retinal microvasculature that causes vessels to leak and proliferate and can lead to vision loss and blindness. Inflammation contributes to the development of diabetic retinopathy, but little is known about the role of the adaptive immune system, including the benefits of augmenting the Forkhead box protein P3 (Foxp3) regulatory T cell (Treg) compartment. We aimed to determine whether treatment with low-dose IL-2 expands and activates Tregs and reduces CD8+ T cells in the retina, and attenuates retinal inflammation and vasculopathy in murine models of diabetic retinopathy and neovascular retinopathy. Methods: Mouse models of strept..