title: Soluble immunologic products in scleroderma sera.
abstract: To investigate the role of immune mechanisms in scleroderma (systemic sclerosis, SSc), we measured the levels of selected cytokines and soluble immune markers in patient sera. Forty-two patients and 14 matched healthy controls are the subject of this report. In the SSc group, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) was found in 8/42 (29 +/- 539 pg/ml, mean level +/- SD) and lymphotoxin in 36/42 (1:409-1:200, serum dilution). Interleukin beta (IL-1 beta) was observed in 23/42 (44 +/- 29, U/ml). IL-2 was identified in 36/42 patients with a mean level of 286 +/- 406 U/ml, soluble interleukin-2 receptor in 42/42 (1055 +/- 393, U/ml), soluble CD4 antigen in 27/42 (1:10-1:320, serum dilution), and CD8 in 42/42 (470 +/- 134, U/ml). TNF, lymphotoxin, IL-1 beta, Il-2, and CD4 were not detected in the control group. IL-2 receptor levels in control subjects were 520 +/- 171 U/ml, significantly lower than those of scleroderma (P less than 0.001), and CD8 levels (582 +/- 140) were significantly higher than in scleroderma (P less than 0.05). The data suggest an ongoing activation of immune cells, particularly the CD4+ subset in SSc and indicate a potential role for the released mediator TNF, IL-1 beta, and lymphotoxin in the disease process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston 29425.
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Kahaleh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000032:analysis; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis; D008233:Lymphotoxin-alpha / Q000032:analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D007375:Interleukin-1; D007376:Interleukin-2; D008233:Lymphotoxin-alpha; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha