La. Gartner et al., SOLUBLE INTERLEUKIN-2 RECEPTOR LEVELS IN CHILDREN WITH TYPE-I INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES-MELLITUS, Annals of clinical and laboratory science, 25(1), 1995, pp. 44-51
Soluble interleukin 2 receptor (sIL-2R) levels reflect mononuclear cel
l activation and are elevated in a variety of autoimmune, neoplastic a
nd infectious conditions. Several investigators have studied sIL-2R le
vels in patients with Type I diabetes mellitus (IDDM), but results hav
e been conflicting. Our primary objective in this study was to compare
sIL-2R levels of children and adolescents with newly diagnosed IDDM w
ith those of age-matched controls. In addition, sIL-2R levels in a coh
ort of patients were followed longitudinally for 1 to 2 years after di
agnosis. Serum sIL-2R levels of 38 IDDM children and adolescents (age
< 20 years) were compared with levels of 39 nondiabetic, age-matched c
ontrols. Mean sIL-2R levels declined with age (P < 0.000005), and ther
e was no significant difference in the regression line relating age an
d sIL-2R levels between patients and controls. The sIL-2R levels remai
ned fairly consistent over 1-2 years of follow up. The presence of isl
et cell antibodies (ICA) had no apparent effect on sIL-2R levels in ch
ildren with diabetes. The sIL-2R levels were similar in magnitude amon
g first degree relatives of patients with IDDM compared to the range o
f unrelated subjects. It is our conclusion that sIL-2R levels are high
est during infancy and decline throughout childhood. The sIL-2R levels
do not appear to be clinically useful as a reflection of immune activ
ation in patients with IDDM. Finally, there may be a genetic influence
which partially regulates production of sIL-2R.