title: The level of interleukin-2 and of soluble interleukin-2 receptor in patients with Balkan nephropathy.
abstract: Balkan Nephropathy (BN) is defined as a clinical entity with unknown etiology. The involvement of immune system in pathogenesis of BN is not well defined yet. The aim of this study was to gain more insight into the cellular immune mechanisms in BN. We determined some factors implied in cellular immunity, such as the serum level of IL-2 and of IL-2 soluble receptor (sIL-2R), and the presence of IL-2 receptor alpha chain (CD25) on T cells membrane. The study was performed on 15 patients with BN, 15 patients with Chronic Pyelonephritis (CPN), and 10 healthy controls from a non-endemic area. Our study showed no significant differences between IL-2 level and CD25+ cells percentage in CPN compared to controls, but a significantly increased level of sIL-2R. The BN sIL-2R is significantly lower than sIL-2R in CPN, and associates an important T cell activation (high CD25+ presence, elevated IL-2 level) compared to CPN. Our conclusion is that while the high sIL-2R level could down modulate T cell activity in CPN, BN sIL-2R level is ineffective in limiting the activation effects of IL-2 on T cells. The results suggest that cellular immunity could have a role in the pathogenesis of N.
authors.affiliation: Victor Babeş University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Department of Immunology, Timişoara, Romania.
authors.forename: St
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vöö
authors.forename: Doina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Drugărin
authors.forename: Fl
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mărgineanu
authors.forename: Andreea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koreck
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Negru
authors.forename: Ani
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Biriescu
mesh_terms: D001449:Balkan Nephropathy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D011704:Pyelonephritis / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2