title: The significance of serum soluble IL-2 receptor as a marker for active visceral leishmaniasis in Sicilian patients.
abstract: Sera from nine Sicilian patients with confirmed visceral leishmaniasis (Leishmania donovani infantum; VL), at the moment of the diagnosis, during the course of the disease and after clinical recovery, were analysed for the concentration of soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL-2R). The results show that sIL-2R is a marker of disease activity, since it is in high concentration at the beginning of infection and returns to the normal range following successful chemotherapy. At the same time of serum analysis for sIL-2R, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of VL patients were stimulated with phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) or antigen and supernatant tested for IL-2 and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production. Data demonstrate that there is an inverse relation between concentration of IL-2 and IFN-gamma in the supernatants and sIL-2R secretion in the sera.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Pathology, University of Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vitale
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Reina
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mansueto
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Malta
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gambino
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mocciaro
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: D'Agostino
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dieli
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cillari
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood; D007893:Leishmania donovani; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D012802:Sicily; D012995:Solubility
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D007371:Interferon-gamma