title: Interleukin-2 in relation to T cell subpopulations in rheumatic heart disease.
abstract: Interleukin-2 (IL-2) and T cell subpopulations were evaluated in children with rheumatic heart disease (RHD). Three groups were included: 13 patients with active RHD, 12 with non-active RHD, and 14 control children. Serum IL-2 and T cell subpopulations were measured by radioimmunoassay and monoclonal antibodies respectively. Patients with active RHD showed a significant increase in IL-2 concentrations and helper:suppressor (H:S) ratio compared with controls with a mean (SEM) IL-2 of 3.48 (0.62) v 1.26 (0.16) U/ml and H:S ratio 2.31 (0.14) v 1.66 (0.04). There was a significant decrease in T suppressor (CD8+) and pan T (CD3+) cells compared with controls with a mean (SEM) for CD8+ of 23.75 (1.19) v 32.23 (0.56)% and CD3+ of 79.55 (0.94) v 85.00 (0.11)%. Patients with non-active RHD showed a significant decrease only in the CD3+ cells (78.20 (0.20)%) when compared with controls. A deficiency of CD3+ cells is a constant finding in patients with RHD, whether the disease is active or not. There was a significant increase in IL-2 concentration with a significant decrease in CD8+ cells in patients with active RHD in comparison with the non-active group (mean (SEM) IL-2 of 3.48 (0.62) v 1.85 (0.24) U/ml and CD8+ of 23.75 (1.19) v 28.83 (1.91)%). Thus an increase in IL-2 and a decrease in CD8+ cells may be related to rheumatic activity. T helper (CD4+) cells did not differ significantly between groups.
authors: Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Egypt.
authors: M M
authors: MM
authors: Zedan
authors: F A
authors: FA
authors: el-Shennawy
authors: H M
authors: HM
authors: Abou-Bakr
authors: A M
authors: AM
authors: al-Basousy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D012214:Rheumatic Heart Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D007376:Interleukin-2