Interleukin 2-dependent immunoregulatory function in hemodialysis patients with chronic hepatitis C.
To investigate the state of activation of T lymphocytes in hemodialysis patients with chronic hepatitis C, serum levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptors (sIL-2R), interleukin-2 (IL-2) and expression of interleukin-2 receptors (IL-2R) on peripheral T lymphocytes were measured in 30 hemodialysis patients with chronic hepatitis C, 14 hemodialysis patients without hepatitis, 30 patients with chronic hepatitis C and 41 normal subjects. A significant increase in sIL-2R levels was noted in all patients with chronic hepatitis compared to normal controls. This increase was even more significant in hemodialysis patients, while a less significant increase was also found in hemodialysis patients without hepatitis C viral infection. Expression of IL-2R on T lymphocytes was increased only in hemodialysis patients with chronic hepatitis. All patients had low levels of serum IL-2. These findings show that a T-cell activation involving the IL-2 system is present in chronic hepatitis C and that this activation is more prominent in hemodialysis patients, probably due to additional extrahepatic factors.
Garyfallos
A
A
Clinical Immunology Unit, 4th Medical Dept., Aristotelian University, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Raptopoulou-Gigi
M
M
Orphanou
H
H
Spaia
S
S
Petridou
P
P
Vayionas
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology
D007376:Interleukin-2; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2