title: [Serum levels of soluble receptors of interleukin-2 in skin pathology].
abstract: The antigenic activation of T lymphocytes depends on the production of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and on the expression of a membrane-specific receptor (IL-2R). This receptor, a dimer composed of a 57 kD chain, is also present on some B lymphocytes and activated macrophages (anti-TAC) grouped together in CD25. A soluble form of IL-2R (sIL-2R) was recently identified, comprising the extracellular part of the chain (45 kD) which is released by the cell in body fluids. The presence of sIL-2R in serum can be assayed using ELISA (Cell free, T cell Sciences, Cambridge, MA). Normal values range between 100 and 500 U/ml, with a mean value of 375 U/ml. Marked increases of sIL-2R, with levels of up to 50,000 U/ml, have been observed in various diseases: hairy cell leukemia, Hodgkin's disease, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, acute leukemia, B-CLL, ATL and Sezary's syndrome. Lesser increases are also found in autoimmune diseases, viral infections, and following organ transplantation. Many Authors have described the close correlation between sIL-2R levels and the clinical evolution of the disease. Soluble IL-2 receptors were studied in 184 patients affected by skin diseases: eczematous dermatitis, lichen, psoriasis, erythroderma psoriaticum, dermatomyositis, scleroderma bullous dermatosis, melanoma, Kaposi's disease, lymphomatoid papulosis, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, mycosis fungoides (MF), Sezary's syndrome (SS). Increased serum levels of sIL-R2 were found in non-neoplastic dermatological diseases, including autoimmune related pathologies. Values were normal (396 +/- 170 U/ml) in patients affected by Stage 1 melanoma, but increased (558 +/- 291 U/ml) in cases with visceral involvement.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Clinica Dermatologica I, Università di Torino.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Massobrio
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lisa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Novelli
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Bernengo
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2
vernacular_title: Livelli sierici dei recettori solubili dell'interleukina-2 in patologia dermatologica.