Elevated plasma levels of interleukin-2 and soluble IL-2 receptor in ischemic heart disease

Background: T-lymphocytes are present in significant numbers in the atheros clerotic plaque, but their role in the progression and pathogenesis of coro nary syndromes remains poorly understood. Hypothesis: We sought to determine the relationship between T-lymphocyte ac tivation and ischemic heart disease by measuring plasma levels of cytokines related to T-lymphocyte function in patients with stable and unstable angi na. Methods: Plasma levels of interleukin (IL-2) and soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL -2R) were measured in 105 patients: 66 with stable angina, 24 with unstable angina, and 15 healthy controls. Patients who presented to the cardiac cat heterization laboratory with unstable or stable anginal syndromes for coron ary angiography or percutaneous coronary intervention enrolled in the study . Results: Mean levels of IL-2 were significantly higher in patients with sta ble angina than in those with unstable angina. The differences between stab le angina and control groups, or between unstable angina and control,groups , were not statistically significant. Mean levels of sIL-2R were significan tly higher in patients with stable angina than in either patients with unst able angina or control patients. Conclusions: Levels of IL-2 and sIL-2 receptor are significantly elevated i n patients with stable angina, but not in patients with unstable angina. Th e contribution of T-lymphocytes to the development of both stable and unsta ble angina requires further investigation.