title: Imbalance of the interleukin 2 system in children with IDDM.
abstract: The IL-2 system which involves IL-2 production, IL-2 receptor expression, and response to IL-2, is associated with autoimmune phenomena. Immunological abnormalities including autoimmune phenomena are believed to contribute to the pathogenesis of IDDM. In this study, the production of IL-2, the responses to IL-2 and IL-2 receptor expression by peripheral blood T lymphocytes were compared in IDDM and normal non-diabetic children. The percentage of IL-2 receptor-positive circulating T cells was significantly increased in diabetic children, although IL-2 receptor expression induced by con A stimulation did not differ in the diabetic and control children. IL-2 production was significantly decreased in diabetic children compared with the control children. The response of stimulated T cells to IL-2 did not differ in IDDM and control children. In IDDM, IL-2 production by CD4-positive T lymphocytes within the IL-2 system is thought to be selectively defective. On the other hand, IL-4, which is also produced by CD4-positive T lymphocytes, was increased. Since IL-4 did not suppress IL-2 production, it would seem that the IL-2 producing subset in CD4+HLA-DR+ T cells is decreased in IDDM. These results suggest that in recent onset IDDM, IL-2 receptor-positive circulating T cells require an IL-2 supply.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Kochi Medical School, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tomoda
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kurashige
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Taniguchi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003208:Concanavalin A; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007700:Kinetics; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012016:Reference Values; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D003208:Concanavalin A; D007371:Interferon-gamma