title: Interleukin 2 receptor in patients with localized and systemic parasitic diseases.
abstract: An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to quantify soluble interleukin 2 receptor (IL-2R) in the serum of patients with helminthic and protozoal infections. The results demonstrated that levels of IL-2R were normal in patients with helminthic infections limited to the intestinal tract (ascariasis, trichuriasis), but significantly elevated in patients with systemic or long-lasting infections (strongyloidiasis, schistosomiasis, fascioliasis, opisthorchiasis). In patients infected with Schistosoma mansoni levels of IL-2R were higher in those with the hepatosplenic than in those with the intestinal form of the disease. Patients with malaria also showed increased serum levels of IL-2R, irrespective whether the infection was caused by Plasmodium falciparum or P. vivax. No difference was observed between patients with acute or history of malaria. The highest levels of IL-2R were observed in patients with visceral leishmaniasis. Interestingly, in these patients the concentration of IL-2R correlated to specific antibody titre. The results are discussed in the context of preferential activation of T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes and/or macrophages during the course of the different parasitic infections investigated.
mesh_terms: D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006373:Helminthiasis / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000276:immunology; D008109:Liver Diseases, Parasitic / Q000276:immunology; D008288:Malaria / Q000276:immunology*; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000032:analysis*; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000032:analysis*; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2