Increased serum levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptor in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis.
In this study we investigated the serum levels of a released soluble form of the interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) in 42 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and in 12 cases of systemic lupus erythematosus. Data were evaluated in relationship to the clinical phase and compared with those observed in normal controls (N = 56) and in osteoarthritis (N = 7). Increased levels were observed in both rheumatoid arthritis (mean +/- SE, 604 +/- 49 U/ml) and systemic lupus erythematosus (1438 +/- 481 U/ml). These values were significantly higher than in control (256 +/- 15 U/ml; P less than 0.001) and in osteoarthritis (298 +/- 33 U/ml; P less than 0.001) groups. In addition, the highest values were associated with the active phases of both rheumatoid arthritis (active vs inactive, 771 +/- 78 vs 451 +/- 39 U/ml; P less than 0.001) and systemic lupus erythematosus (active vs inactive, 2108 +/- 489 vs 499 +/- 75 U/ml; P less than 0.001). Our findings suggest that the detection of sIL-2R in rheumatoid arthritis and in systemic lupus erythematosus may represent a good marker of disease activity, which indirectly indicates the ongoing activation and/or proliferation of immunoreactive cells which are involved in the pathogenetic events of these autoimmune conditions.
Semenzato
G
G
Department of Clinical Medicine, Padua University School of Medicine, Italy.
Bambara
L M
LM
Biasi
D
D
Frigo
A
A
Vinante
F
F
Zuppini
B
B
Trentin
L
L
Feruglio
C
C
Chilosi
M
M
Pizzolo
G
G
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000276:immunology*; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis*
D015415:Biomarkers; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2