Serum levels of interleukin 15 in patients with rheumatic diseases.
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.
Suzuki
J
J
Department of Rheumatology and Internal Medicine, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Morimoto
S
S
Amano
H
H
Tokano
Y
Y
Takasaki
Y
Y
Hashimoto
H
H
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
D015415:Biomarkers; D019409:Interleukin-15