SERUM LEVEL OF SOLUBLE IL-2 RECEPTORS IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS

Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic chronic inflammatory disease charac terized. by development of severe destruction of the joints caused by uncontrollable activation of cellular immunity. Activated T-lymphocyte s synthesize interleukin-2 (IL-2) and specific membrane soluble recept ors (sIL-2r) for this cytokin. The level of sIL-2r release is proporti onal to the number of molecules expressed on the membrane of activated immunocompetent cells. The data are provided for 59 patients with a s ignificant RA diagnosis according to criteria of the American Rheumato logy Board. Serum sIL-2r level was measured by enzyme immnunoassay. It was found higher in RA patients than in controls (p<0.001). Concentra tions of sIL-2r increased with activation of RA. It is suggested that determination of sIL-2r extends potentialities of laboratory diagnosis sf RA activity which is important for evaluating effectivity of the t reatment and RA prognosis.