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Serum levels of interleukin 15 in patients with rheumatic diseases
J Suzuki1, S Morimoto, H Amano
1Department of Rheumatology and Internal Medicine, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Objective:
The role of the cytokine interleukin 15 (IL-15) in rheumatic disease is unclear. We examined serum levels of IL-15 in patients with various rheumatic diseases.
Methods:
Serum levels of IL-15 were determined by sandwich ELISA.
Results:
Serum levels of IL-15 were significantly increased in patients with polymyositis/dermatomyositis, polyarteritis nodosa, and systemic sclerosis; and significantly increased as well in disease complicated by interstitial pneumonitis (IP), hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS), and/or vasculitis. Patients with serum IL-15 levels < or = 5 pg/ml showed significantly high rates of survival.
Conclusion:
IL-15 is related to the pathogenesis of IP, HPS, and/or vasculitis. Serum IL-15 level could possibly be used as a marker of prognosis.
