Low serum levels of CD44, CD44v6, and neopterin indicate immune dysfunction in chronic pancreatitis

Introduction: In autoimmune diseases. malignancies, and inflammatory condit ions, a correlation of serum levels of CD44, interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2r) . and neopterin with disease activity could be shown. Aims: To assess the immune parameters in chronic pancreatitis in correlatio n to clinical data to evaluate the potential role of immune dysfunction as a risk factor. Methodology: Levels of IL-2r, sCD44, sCD44v6, and neopterin were measured u sing the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 63 patients with chronic panc reatitis who underwent surgery between 1992 and 1995 in our institution. Cl inical data were evaluated prospectively before surgery, and a follow-up in vestigation was conducted in 1997. Results: Mean serum levels of CD44, CD44v6, and neopterin were significantl y lower in patients with chronic pancreatitis compared with the control gro up. The mean level of IL-2r was also lower in chronic pancreatitis, but thi s difference was not significant. However, no influence of immunosuppressiv e factors such as alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, or diabetes could be detected on the levels of IL-2r, CD44, CD44v6, and neopterin. Conclusion: In accordance with other diseases of reduced immunoreactivity, depressed serum levels of biomarkers in chronic pancreatitis are caused by reduced T-lymphocyte and macrophage activation. By ruling out a significant in fluence of concomitant immunosuppressive factors. we conclude that the inflammatory process itself is the source of the depressed immune function, which might be restored by surgical resection.