title: The relationship of interleukin-2 and soluble interleukin-2 receptors to intrathecal immunoglobulin synthesis in patients with multiple sclerosis.
abstract: The in vivo relationship of interleukin-2 (IL-2) to the local humoral immune response within the central nervous system (CNS) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) is hitherto largely unknown. Intrathecal levels of IL-2 and soluble IL-2 receptors (sIL-2R) were correlated to the local CNS synthesis of immunoglobulin G, A, D, and M isotypes in 70 patients with clinically definite MS. Levels were also determined in 19 normal control subjects to establish normal reference limits. High cerebrospinal fluid levels of IL-2 and sIL-2R were detected mainly in patients with acute relapsing-remitting MS and were significantly higher than corresponding serum levels. Intrathecal levels of IL-2 significantly correlated with local CNS synthesis of IgD and IgM, while no correlation was found with either IgG or IgA. Similarly, intrathecal sIL-2R levels significantly correlated with local CNS production of IgD and IgM, but not IgG or IgA. These findings further extend previous reports and also suggest that IL-2 and sIL-2R are involved in the early intrathecal humoral immune response in MS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurochemistry, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, U.K.
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Sharief
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hentges
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000378:metabolism; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D007700:Kinetics; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D012995:Solubility
chemical_list: D007136:Immunoglobulins; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2