Interleukin-2 receptor expression and interleukin-2 production in bullous pemphigoid

Abstract

Expression of interleukin-2 (IL2) receptors was studied on peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) in 25 patients with bullous pemphigoid. Analysis was carried out by flow cytometry. Without immunosuppressive therapy expression of IL2 receptors only on T cells (CD5) was significantly increased as shown by double staining (11.9% +/- 7.8% vs 2.1% +/- 1% in controls). After 2-3 weeks under immunosuppressive treatment with prednisolone and azathioprine, however, BP lymphocytes did not exhibit any IL2 receptors. PBLs of 18 BP patients showed an increase in IL2 production (1027.4 +/- 670.5 U/ml vs 270 +/- 100 U/ml in controls) during the acute stage of the disease after stimulation with phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)/phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). On the contrary, IL2 production of the same cells in five patients was only in the lowest range of control values after PHA stimulation without PMA (12.5 +/- 29.6 U/ml vs 40 +/- 20 U/ml in controls). Under treatment with immunosuppressants the IL2 production normalized after PHA/PMA stimulation and slightly decreased following PHA stimulation. From these results we conclude that a T-cell activation via activation antigens, as IL2 receptors, and the production of the specific ligand, IL2, may play a role in the pathogenesis of bullous pemphigoid, especially in the earliest stages, and serve as a marker of disease activity.

Re‐evaluation of the natural course of bullous pemphigoid. A prospective study

“…In atopy, an impairment of cell‐mediated immunity correlating with disease severity exists, whereas, in BP, T‐helper and T‐suppressor cells show no abnormality. 28 These events raise the possibility of a nonrandom association.…”

Serum Levels of Autoantibodies to BP180 Correlate With Disease Activity in Patients With Bullous Pemphigoid

“…17,[26][27][28][29] In contrast to antibodies to BP180, which are thought to be directly linked to the pathogenesis of BP, some of these other factors may instead reflect the general inflammatory response in patients with BP.…”

Increased IgE‐levels in bullous pemphigoid correlate to soluble low affinity Fc‐II‐receptor for IgE and soluble IL‐2‐receptor

“…In BP an expression of lL-2 receptor on T-cells in peripheral blood and an increased IL-2 production was detected [32,33]. In BP an expression of lL-2 receptor on T-cells in peripheral blood and an increased IL-2 production was detected [32,33].…”

“…IL-4 and IFN-g production depend on T-cell activation, including secretion of IL-2 and expression of the IL-2 receptor. In BP an expression of lL-2 receptor on T-cells in peripheral blood and an increased IL-2 production was detected [32,33].…”

“…In summary, we found specific alterations of the immune system in BP capable of regulating the IgE synthesis, whereas in pemphigus vulgaris, for instance, no such alterations were present [35], In BP activated T-cells [32] produce IL-2 and sIL-2R and therefore might influence the IL-4 and sCD23R production, while IL-4 and sCD23R may regulate IgE. In summary, we found specific alterations of the immune system in BP capable of regulating the IgE synthesis, whereas in pemphigus vulgaris, for instance, no such alterations were present [35], In BP activated T-cells [32] produce IL-2 and sIL-2R and therefore might influence the IL-4 and sCD23R production, while IL-4 and sCD23R may regulate IgE.…”