[Interleukin-2 and interleukin-6 in serum as markers of disease progression in systemic sclerosis]

It is hypothesized that abnormalities of cell-mediated immunity participate in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis (SSc). However, the role of many cellular markers of immune activation remain still not well known, particularly as comparable with clinical status. The aim of this study was to examine the levels of some cytokines: IL-2, IL-6, TNF-alpha and to evaluate their role as parameters of disease activity and severity in systemic sclerosis. Fourty-seven patients with SSc we included in the study. Concentrations of cytokines were determined by an-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay--ELISA. Controls were healthy age-and-sex marched volunteers. Interleukin-2 was identified in 45% of sera from patients with SSc, predominantly among patients with the rapidly progressive disease and with the diffuse SSc. The presence of IL-2 in SSc sera may also be indicative of disease activity. The frequency of positivity for IL-6 in examined SSc sera was similarly and was 50%. The prominently frequent incidence of the IL-6 in early stage of disease and in patients with severe systemic involvement indicated a potential role of this cytokine as a parameter of disease activity. TNF-alpha was not detected in the examined sera.