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Increased peripheral T lymphocyte activation in patients with karyotypically normal spontaneous premature ovarian
L M Nelson1, L M Kimzey, G R Merriam
1Developmental Endocrinology Branch, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
Objective:
To determine if soluble interleukin 2 (IL-2) receptor measured in serum by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) might be useful in managing patients with karyotypically normal spontaneous premature ovarian failure.
Design:
Prospective, controlled observation.
Setting:
Tertiary care research institution.
Interventions:
None.
Patients, Participants:
Twenty-four patients with karyotypically normal spontaneous premature ovarian failure comprised the study group. Forty-two healthy men and women comprised the normal reference group.
Main Outcome Measures:
We measured peripheral T lymphocyte human leukocyte antigen locus-DR (HLA-DR) expression and IL-2 receptor expression using monoclonal antibodies and flow cytometry. We measured soluble IL-2 receptor levels in serum using an ELISA.
Results:
Consistent with previous findings, our patients had significantly higher HLA-DR expression on peripheral T lymphocytes (5.3 +/- 0.46) as compared with controls (3.5 +/- 0.34) (mean +/- SEM, P less than 0.01). Seven patients also had elevated IL-2 receptor expression on peripheral T lymphocytes (P less than 0.05). However, soluble IL-2 receptor levels in the serum did not differ significantly from normals.
Conclusions:
Patients with karyotypically normal spontaneous premature ovarian failure have a modest increase in peripheral T lymphocyte activation measured by flow cytometry. This degree of activation does not result in increased soluble IL-2 receptor release measured by ELISA.