LEVELS OF SOLUBLE IL-2 RECEP TORS IN SERA OF IRANIAN PATIENTS WITH BEHCET\'S DISEASE

It has been shown that activated T-cells produce and release both IL-2 and IL- 2 receptors (lL-2R). The rate of IL-2 release is proportional to its cell surface expression and state of cell activation. To clarify the molecular basis of this immunological aberration, we analysed the amount of soluble IL-2R(SIL2-R) by an ELISA technique in 68 patients with Behcet's disease (BD), 28 patient controls (PC) and 31 normal controls (NC). The data suggest that the amount of SIL-2R in BD is significantly higher (P<O.005) than that of NC. The same differences were seen between PC and NC(P<O.005). However the level of S IL-2R in BD and PC were similar. This study suggests that inhibition of an immunoregulatory cytokine by its soluble receptors might occur ill vivo, as the reduction ofS IL-2R levels approaching control values preceded clinical remission.