title: Use of CD25 as an immunohistochemical marker for acquired ocular toxoplasmosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Toxoplasmosis is the most common cause of posterior infectious uveitis worldwide. It is often impossible to determine its congenital or acquired nature. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) in peripheral blood has been described as a possible marker for acquired toxoplasmosis. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the histopathological characteristics of ocular toxoplasmosis cases using CD25 as a marker for the expression of interleukin-2.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded enucleated globes from ten immunocompetent patients with clinical diagnosis of toxoplasmosis were evaluated. Four patients had the acquired form of ocular toxoplasmosis (positive IgM) while six were IgM negative and IgG positive for toxoplasmosis. Histopathological slides were reviewed for the extension of the retinal necrosis, number of toxo cysts, the granulomatous inflammatory reaction, the presence of T and B cells within the choroid and the IL-2 expression. Immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibodies was performed to observe the expression of CD4, CD8, CD20, CD25, and CD68.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The histopathological evaluation disclosed no differences between acquired and the other ocular toxoplasmosis cases regarding the characteristics studied. However, CD25 showed a higher expression of IL-2 on the 4 acquired cases of ocular toxoplasmosis compared to the remainders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report showing that the use of CD25 as a marker for interleukin-2 could differentiate acquired ocular toxoplasmosis.
authors.affiliation: McGill University, Canada. crismiyamoto@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Miyamoto
authors.forename: Rubens Belfort
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Mattos Neto
authors.forename: Sebastian Di
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Cesare
authors.forename: Rubens
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Belfort Junior
authors.forename: Miguel N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Burnier
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis*; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000276:immunology*; D014126:Toxoplasmosis, Ocular / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D007376:Interleukin-2; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit