title: Chitotriosidase and soluble IL-2 receptor: comparison of two markers of sarcoidosis severity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sarcoidosis is a multisystemic granulomatous disease with an unpredictable clinical course characterized by accumulation of activated proliferating T lymphocytes and mononuclear phagocytes in affected organs.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this study were to describe the clinical, radiological and immunological features of a population of sarcoidosis patients followed at the Sarcoidosis Regional Centre in Siena and to analyse chitotriosidase and sIL-2R concentrations in serum of these patients in order to understand their potential as disease markers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Chitotriosidase and sIL-2R concentrations in serum of sarcoidosis patients were found to be significantly higher than in healthy controls (p<0.01) and a positive correlation between the two markers was documented for the first time. Moreover, chitotriosidase and sIL-2R were expressed differently in different radiographic stages of the disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chitotriosidase and sIL-2R are two markers of sarcoidosis of different origin, the values of which show a correlation in these patients; they are easily detectable in serum and could be useful clinical markers of progression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine and Immunology, Respiratory Diseases Section, Siena University, Italy. bargagli2@unisi.it
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bargagli
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bianchi
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Margollicci
authors.forename: Carmela
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Olivieri
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Luddi
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Coviello
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grosso
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rottoli
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006262:Health; D006596:Hexosaminidases / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood*; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D012907:Smoking; D012995:Solubility
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D006596:Hexosaminidases; C086400:chitotriosidase