Low-dose Interleukin-2 After Myocardial Infarction to Investigate Effects on Tissue-resident Regulatory T Cells

So far, our lab has looked at Tregs and immune cells in the blood. The question remained whether ld-IL-2 can have the desired effect on Tregs in tissues, particularly the vasculature and cardiac tissues, where they could promote tissue repair and potentially improve clinical outcomes for patients after a myocardial infarction which causes significant tissue damage. Clinically, this could lead to lower rates of heart failure.

In both the LILACS and IVORY trials, the effect measured was on circulating Tregs, whilst the effect of ld-IL-2 on tissue resident immune cells remains unknown.

Therefore, the aims of the study are to understand the effect of treatment with ld-IL-2 on tissue-resident immune cells in the context of ischaemic heart disease and acute MI where there has been acute tissue damage. This includes:

• Assessment if ld-IL-2, given systemically to patients at our proposed doses, can alter Tregs in the vasculature and cardiac tissues to exhibit a tissue repair and anti-inflammatory phenotype
• Studying the relationship between the vasculature, cardiac tissues and circulating immune cells after systemic ld-IL-2 administration.

Inclusion criteria

• Aged over 18 years old
• Undergoing CABG surgery

Exclusion criteria

• Critical left main stem coronary disease
• Severe valvular disease (for example 'severe' aortic stenosis as classified on echocardiogram report)
• Haemodynamic instability caused by arrhythmia requiring cardioversion in the current admission
• Non-sustained ventricular tachycardia of >10 beats in the last 48 hours
• Autoimmune disease
• Any regular immunosuppressive treatment [Inhaled or topical steroids are permissible]
• Known active hepatic disease or alanine aminotransferase (ALT) > 3xULN
• Severe chronic kidney disease (defined as eGFR < 30 ml/min/1.73m2)
• Allergy or intolerance to aldesleukin
• Signs and symptoms of active infection
• History of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B or C
• Current malignancy requiring active treatment
• Vaccine within 4 weeks prior to screening
• Women of child-bearing potential and pregnancy (women must be either postmenopausal (defined as being amenorrhoeic for greater than 2 years with an appropriate clinical profile (e.g. age appropriate (>55 years old), history of vasomotor symptoms) or having documented hysterectomy and/or bilateral oophorectomy)
• Women who are breast-feeding
• Clinically relevant medical or surgical conditions that, in the opinion of the investigator, would put the subject at risk by participating in the study