title: Soluble interleukin-2 receptor in sera of patients with Graves' disease.
abstract: Recently, in vitro production of interleukin-2 receptor induced by mitogens have been shown to be impaired in autoimmune disorders including organo-specific autoimmune diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate serum levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptor in 20 untreated patients with Graves' disease and to follow up their changes in relation to clinical picture and TSH-receptor-, anti-thyroglobulin-, anti-microsomal as well as anti-eye muscle antibodies. Soluble interleukin-2 receptor level was significantly increased in newly-diagnosed Graves' patients compared to controls (667 +/- 270 vs. 205 +/- 45 U/ml) (P less than 0.001). Among the patients sera those with active infiltrative ophthalmopathy had higher soluble interleukin-2 receptor levels than those without eye symptoms (810 +/- 313 vs. 525 +/- 180 U/ml). Soluble interleukin-2 receptor level was normalized in Methimazole-treatment-induced remission in the majority of patients except those with ophthalopathy. In five patients the soluble interleukin-2 receptor levels were studied after interruption of thyrostatic therapy; an increase was observed in three patients; thereafter hyperthyrosis relapsed in two cases. Furthermore, a correlation was found between soluble interleukin-2 receptor levels and TSH-receptor antibodies, however, the association with other immune parameters examined was not significant. In conclusion, an enhanced level of soluble interleukin-2 receptor was detected in patients with untreated Graves' disease. This finding might play a significant role in regulation of impaired cell-mediated immune mechanism and has a prognostic value for relapse of autoreactive processes.
authors.affiliation: III. Department of Medicine, Teaching Hospital, Debrecen, Hungary.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Balázs
authors.forename: N R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Farid
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008713:Methimazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009801:Oculomotor Muscles / Q000276:immunology; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis*; D012016:Reference Values; D013954:Thyroglobulin / Q000276:immunology*; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000276:immunology*; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D015415:Biomarkers; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D014284:Triiodothyronine; D008713:Methimazole; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013954:Thyroglobulin