[Interleukin-2 (IL-2) in active pulmonary tuberculosis].
To clarify the precise of cellular immunity mechanism in pulmonary tuberculosis, we investigated the amount of IL-2 in patients with untreated active pulmonary tuberculosis. When serum adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity was examined using enzyme assay, an abnormally high level was observed in all patients (29.0 + 11.6 IU/ml, mean + SD; 4.5-17.8, normal range). Likewise, the level of serum-soluble interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) measured by ELISA showed abnormal high level in all patients (844.3 + 584.8 IU/ml; 80-300, normal range). When stimulated using PHA, the peripheral lymphocyte's ability to produce IL-2 revealed no difference between control subjects and patients. It was, however, noted that the lymphocytes of the patients significantly suppressed IL-2 responsiveness when compared to the control subjects (P less than 0.05). The serum IL-2 concentration measured using RIA could not be detected in any of the patients as was the same for control subject. All of the above mentioned results suggest that T-cell activation which caused increment in serum ADA activity and soluble IL-2R occurred in active pulmonary tuberculosis. The suppressed IL-2 responsiveness in the peripheral lymphocytes of patients proposes the possibility of soluble IL-2R reduction by the negative feedback mechanism in IL-2-sensitive lymphocytes.
Ida
T
T
Department of Internal Medicine, Branch Hospital, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Ibaraki, Japan.
Taniai
S
S
Makiguchi
K
K
Otomo
N
N
Taniguchi
K
K
Miyazato
I
I
Chida
M
M
Ichioka
M
M
Marumo
F
F
D000243:Adenosine Deaminase / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
D007376:Interleukin-2; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D000243:Adenosine Deaminase