[Determination of interleukin 2 activity in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis]

The activity of Interleukin-2 (IL-2) in 34 patients with pulmonary TB and 25 normal adults were determined by means of the bioassay. The results showed that the activity of IL-2 determined by immediate stimulating method (Ohs IL-2) and delayed stimulating method (24hs IL-2) are markedly increased in the mild cases than that of controls; In the advanced cases and the controls, no significant difference was found between the activities of ohs IL-2, but the activity of 24hs IL-2 is markedly reduced in the former group. All these showed that the activity of IL-2 is depended on the serious degree of illness and the clinical type, it can also reflect the condition of immune function in the patients with pulmonary TB.