Antihypertensive effect of interleukin-2.

Recent reports indicate that cyclooxygenase inhibitors such as aspirin may facilitate the release of interleukin-2 from thymic T cells. We have previously reported that aspirin has antihypertensive effects in the standard animal model of essential hypertension, the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR). Because the SHR has been reported to be deficient in T cells, it was of interest to determine whether the course of hypertension in this model could be altered by interleukin-2, the T cell growth factor. A single bolus of interleukin-2 (5,000 units/kg s.c.) prevented the increase of blood pressure in the young SHR and lowered pressure to normotensive levels in the well-established hypertensive adult SHR. In the latter, the effects of a single dose have been found to persist for at least 6 months with no toxic or untoward effects apparent. Blood pressure in Goldblatt, single-kidney wistar-kyoto rats, a model of renal hypertension, was not affected by interleukin-2.