title: Cytokines and soluble interleukin 2 receptors in rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: Cytokines (IL-1 alpha and IL-2) and soluble interleukin 2 receptors (sIL-2r) were evaluated in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and controls. In RA, serum sIL-2r and IL-1 alpha were increased, and sIL-2r were significantly higher in synovial fluid than in serum. Serum levels of sIL-1r but not IL-1 alpha were increased in patients with acute infections, suggesting additional discriminatory specificity for IL-1 alpha. Both tender and swollen joint scores were higher for patients with RA with serum sIL-2r levels greater than or equal to 700 U/ml. Quantitation of immune mediators may be useful in the clinical assessment of RA in addition to their implication regarding the pathogenesis of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Section of Rheumatology, Louisiana State University Medical Center, Shreveport 71130.
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.forename: W G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Brelsford
authors.forename: V C
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Adams
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D007596:Joints / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D012995:Solubility
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007375:Interleukin-1; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2