Demonstration of interleukin-2, interleukin-4 and interleukin-6 in sera from patients with localized scleroderma.

Abstract

Localized scleroderma has been reported to be accompanied by immunological abnormalities related to B cells, but little is known about T-cell activation in this disease. In this study, serum levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), which are known to be released by activated T cells, were determined using a sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 48 patients with localized scleroderma and 20 with systemic sclerosis, and in 20 healthy control subjects. IL-2, IL-4 and IL-6 were detected in serum from patients with localized scleroderma but not in that from healthy controls. The presence of antihistone antibodies correlated significantly with elevated IL-4 and IL-6 levels. Decreased serum levels of IL-2, IL-4 and IL-6 paralleled improvement in cutaneous sclerosis. Frequent detection of these lymphokines in serum from patients with localized scleroderma reflects T-cell activation in this disorder.

• Authors: H Ihn, S Sato, M Fujimoto, K Kikuchi, K Takehara
• Journal: Archives of dermatological research (Arch Dermatol Res) Vol. 287 Issue 2 Pg. 193-7 ( 1995) ISSN: 0340-3696 [Print] Germany
• PMID: 7763091 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Autoantibodies
• Histones
• Interleukin-2
• Interleukin-6
• Interleukin-4

Topics

• Autoantibodies (blood)
• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
• Fluorescent Antibody Technique
• Histones (immunology)
• Humans
• Interleukin-2 (blood)
• Interleukin-4 (blood)
• Interleukin-6 (blood)
• Scleroderma, Localized (blood, immunology)
• Scleroderma, Systemic (blood, immunology)