title: CD8+CD28-lymphocytes in peripheral blood and serum concentrations of soluble interleukin 6 receptor are increased in patients with Graves' orbitopathy and correlate with disease activity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The extrathyroid, orbital manifestation of Graves' disease (GD)--Graves' orbitopathy (GO)--presents a difficult clinical problem. The immunological status of GO patients is still under investigation. The aim of this study was to assess the serum concentration of interleukin 6 (IL-6), soluble interleukin 6 receptor (sIL-6R), and CD8+CD28- lymphocytes in GO patients and to evaluate if these parameters were associated with disease activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-nine patients (29 women and 10 men, aged 24-71, mean 50.18) with newly diagnosed GD were enrolled in the study. Active GO was diagnosed in 20 patients. The control group included 12 healthy individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum concentrations of IL-6 and sIL-6R were estimated by ELISA. Percentages of CD8+CD28- lymphocytes in peripheral blood were assessed by flow cytometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean serum IL-6 and sIL-6R concentrations were significantly higher in all GD patients and in GO and non-GO patients than in normal controls. In all GD patients and the non-GO group, serum IL-6 and sIL-6R concentrations were significantly reduced after efficient treatment. In GO patients, only serum sIL-6R concentration was significantly lower after efficient treatment. In all GD patients, the mean percentage of CD8+CD28- lymphocytes was significantly lower after efficient treatment. In GO patients, the mean percentage of CD8+CD28- lymphocytes was significantly higher than in the non-GO group or in normals. Moreover, in the GO group, the mean percentage of CD8+CD28- lymphocytes was significantly lower after treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results have shown that CD8+CD28- lymphocyte percentage in peripheral blood and serum concentration of sIL-6R are increased in GO patients and correlate with disease activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland. mikun11@wp.pl
authors.forename: Miroslaw
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Slowik
authors.forename: Donata
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Urbaniak-Kujda
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bohdanowicz-Pawlak
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kapelko-Slowik
authors.forename: Jaroslaw
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dybko
authors.forename: Dariusz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wolowiec
authors.forename: Bozena
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jazwiec
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Daroszewski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018106:CD28 Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D049970:Graves Ophthalmopathy / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D018106:CD28 Antigens; D015850:Interleukin-6; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6