title: Serum soluble interleukin-2 receptor levels in chronic progressive, stable and steroid-treated multiple sclerosis.
abstract: Serum levels of the soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R), an indicator of T cell activation, were significantly elevated in chronic progressive MS (CPMS) patients, clinically stable MS patients and in patients with other neurological diseases (OND) as compared to healthy controls. Levels of sIL-2R in steroid treated CPMS patients were markedly lower than in untreated CPMS patients and were comparable to healthy controls. Thus, systemic T cell activation occurs in MS during clinically stable and progressive disease stages and in other neurological disorders. The ability of oral corticosteroids to depress serum sIL-2R levels in vivo may be one mechanism by which they exert their therapeutic effect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bansil
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Troiano
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rohowsky-Kochan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D011241:Prednisone