title: Serum levels of interleukin 15 in patients with rheumatic diseases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The role of the cytokine interleukin 15 (IL-15) in rheumatic disease is unclear. We examined serum levels of IL-15 in patients with various rheumatic diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum levels of IL-15 were determined by sandwich ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum levels of IL-15 were significantly increased in patients with polymyositis/dermatomyositis, polyarteritis nodosa, and systemic sclerosis; and significantly increased as well in disease complicated by interstitial pneumonitis (IP), hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS), and/or vasculitis. Patients with serum IL-15 levels < or = 5 pg/ml showed significantly high rates of survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IL-15 is related to the pathogenesis of IP, HPS, and/or vasculitis. Serum IL-15 level could possibly be used as a marker of prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Internal Medicine, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morimoto
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Amano
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tokano
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takasaki
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers; D003882:Dermatomyositis / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D015616:Histiocytosis, Non-Langerhans-Cell / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D019409:Interleukin-15 / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010488:Polyarteritis Nodosa / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D019409:Interleukin-15