title: Serum interleukin-2 and soluble interleukin-2 receptor levels in generalized social phobia.
abstract: Alternations in immune function have been described in a variety of psychiatric disorders including schizophrenia and depression; however, we do not know of any research involving social phobia and the immune system. This preliminary study explores the relationship between social phobia and two well-established immune parameters, serum interleukin-2 (IL-2) levels, a potent immune and central nervous system modulator, and soluble interleukin-2 receptors (SIL-2Rs), a well-known marker of T-cell activation. Fifteen subjects with generalized social phobia and 15 healthy volunteers had serum IL-2, and SIL-2Rs measured by enzyme-linked immunoassay. Subjects with social phobia and normal volunteers had similar mean serum IL-2 and SIL-2R levels. The data suggest that, unlike other psychiatric disorders, these immune measures may not be used to differentiate patients with generalized social phobia from normal volunteers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, UC San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla 92037, USA.
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Rapaport
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Stein
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000523:psychology; D011598:Psychoneuroimmunology; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2