Soluble interleukin‐2 receptors in patients with systemic sclerosis

Abstract

Plasma levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptors (sIL-2R) were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 79 patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). These levels were significantly elevated in SSc patients, compared with normal controls (mean 2 SEM 866.0 -t 63.6 unitshl versus 293.0 & 20.5; P < 0.001).Soluble IL-2R levels were highest in patients with generalized disease, were strongly associated with mortality (P < 0.001) and inversely correlated with disease duration (P = 0.003), but were not related to sex, age, specific visceral involvement, serologic status, peripheral lymphocyte count, or therapy. Levels of sIL-2R in the supernatants of peripheral blood mononuclear cells were low in patients and controls, and showed comparable increases following phytohemagglutinin stimulation. Exposure of peripheral blood mononuclear cells to laminin did not induce sIL-2R release. Circulating IL-2 levels were comparably low in patients and controls. Our findings suggest the presence of lymphocyte activation in SSc, and further suggest that measurement

Interleukin‐1, Interleukin‐2, Interleukin‐4, Interleukin‐6, Tumor Necrosis Factor α, and Interferon‐γ Levels in Sera from Patients With Scleroderma

“…In our studies, half-maximal stimulation of CTLL proliferation was reproducibly supported by 1 unit/ml recombinant IL-2, whereas -50 units/ml IL-2 gave maximal proliferation in the CTLL assay of Kahaleh and LeRoy (12). When we tested sera for IL-2 by ELISA, we found IL-2 both in patient sera (23 of 56, 39%) and in control sera (13 of 43, 30%) with no statistically significant difference between the groups (P = 0.36), similar to the results reported by Degiannis et a1 (13). Our findings of similar antigenic IL-2 levels in scleroderma patients and controls, but increased IL-2 biologic activity in patient sera, support the hypothesis of Kahaleh and LeRoy (12) that an IL-2 inhibitor is present in sera from controls but reduced in sera from scleroderma patients.…”

“…There have been several previous studies of IL-2 levels in scleroderma patients (7,12,13). Kahaleh and LeRoy (12) found IL-2 by ELISA and CTLL assays in 41 of 47 scleroderma patients, but none of 14 normal controls.…”

Soluble Interleukin-2 Receptor as an Indicator of Immunological Disturbance Found in Silicosis Patients

“…SSc samples were utilized for the positive control since silica is the most important environmental factor in terms of the development of SSc. Additionally, the correlation_~etween disease activity and serum sIL-2R concentrations in SSc has been well documented (25)(26)(27)(28).…”

Biomarkers in Systemic Sclerosis

“…Several studies have demonstrated a close correlation of serum levels of srIL-2 with clinical and disease activity in patients with SSc [85][86][87]. In one of these studies the levels of srIL-2 correlated inversely with the duration of SSc, being more elevated in patients with a recent onset and rapidly progressive forms of the disorder [85]. These values also correlated with the severity and extent of skin sclerosis, as assessed by the mRSS.…”

“…The soluble receptor for IL-2 (srIL-2) was one of the earliest identified biomarkers reflecting inflammatory and immunologic activation in SSc. Several studies have demonstrated a close correlation of serum levels of srIL-2 with clinical and disease activity in patients with SSc [85][86][87]. In one of these studies the levels of srIL-2 correlated inversely with the duration of SSc, being more elevated in patients with a recent onset and rapidly progressive forms of the disorder [85].…”