Increased serum interleukin-18 in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus and T-cell large granular lymphocytic leukemia.
Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is a potent cofactor for T-helper (Th-1) cell development and inducer of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), and is reported to contribute to autoimmune diseases. T-cell large granular lymphocyte (T-LGL) leukemia involves the proliferation of autoreactive CTL that is often associated with autoimmune disorders. We found increased serum IL-18 concentrations in a 55-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and T-LGL-leukemia. Her serum IL-18 concentrations correlated with the intensity of her SLE symptoms and the number of T-LGL cells in peripheral blood. This evidence suggests that IL-18 is involved in T-LGL-related autoimmune disorders.
Ogata
Atsushi
A
Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Hyogo College of Medicine, 1-1 Mukogawa-cho, Nishinomiya 663-8131, Japan. a-ogata@hyo-med.ac.jp
Kitano
Masayasu
M
Fukamizu
Maki
M
Hamano
Teruaki
T
Sano
Hajime
H