[Interleukin-2 (IL-2) in active pulmonary tuberculosis]

Kekkaku. 1991 Nov;66(11):723-6.
[Article in Japanese]

Abstract

To clarify the precise of cellular immunity mechanism in pulmonary tuberculosis, we investigated the amount of IL-2 in patients with untreated active pulmonary tuberculosis. When serum adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity was examined using enzyme assay, an abnormally high level was observed in all patients (29.0 + 11.6 IU/ml, mean + SD; 4.5-17.8, normal range). Likewise, the level of serum-soluble interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) measured by ELISA showed abnormal high level in all patients (844.3 + 584.8 IU/ml; 80-300, normal range). When stimulated using PHA, the peripheral lymphocyte's ability to produce IL-2 revealed no difference between control subjects and patients. It was, however, noted that the lymphocytes of the patients significantly suppressed IL-2 responsiveness when compared to the control subjects (P less than 0.05). The serum IL-2 concentration measured using RIA could not be detected in any of the patients as was the same for control subject. All of the above mentioned results suggest that T-cell activation which caused increment in serum ADA activity and soluble IL-2R occurred in active pulmonary tuberculosis. The suppressed IL-2 responsiveness in the peripheral lymphocytes of patients proposes the possibility of soluble IL-2R reduction by the negative feedback mechanism in IL-2-sensitive lymphocytes.

Publication types

  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Deaminase / blood
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Cellular
  • Interleukin-2 / biosynthesis
  • Interleukin-2 / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Receptors, Interleukin-2 / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / immunology*
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / metabolism

Substances

  • Interleukin-2
  • Receptors, Interleukin-2
  • Adenosine Deaminase