Cationic liposomes encapsulating IL-2 selectively induce apoptosis and significantly reduce the secretion of cytokines on M1-murine polarized macrophages

Inflammatory diseases pose a global challenge due to the critical role of macrophages in their pathogenesis. This study evaluated the effects of cationic liposomes encapsulating IL-2 (LIP-IL-2) on murine peritoneal macrophages (MP) polarized towards M1 and M2 phenotypes. M1 MP (CD86⁺), which overexpressed IL-2Rα and CD14 receptors, underwent apoptosis following LIP-IL-2 treatment, whereas M2 MP (CD206⁺) were unaffected. Furthermore, LIP-IL-2 significantly reduced the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-12, exclusively in M1 macrophages. These findings suggest that LIP-IL-2 could serve as a promising therapeutic tool for chronic inflammatory diseases by selectively inducing apoptosis in pro-inflammatory M1 macrophages without affecting M2 ones, opening avenues for targeted therapies in diseases where chronic macrophage-mediated inflammation is a key factor.