Increased serum soluble interleukin 2 receptor levels in patients with viral liver diseases

Soluble interleukin 2 receptors (sIL 2R) in the sera of patients with viral liver diseases were quantified with a solid-phase enzyme immunoassay using two monoclonal antibodies against the receptors. The sIL 2R levels in patients with acute hepatitis, chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma were significantly higher than those in control subjects. In acute hepatitis patients, the high levels of sIL 2R observed during the florid stage returned to normal during remission. Levels in patients with chronic active hepatitis were significantly higher than in those with chronic persistent and lobular hepatitis, and levels observed during the exacerbation phase of chronic hepatitis were higher than they were during remission. Thus, in chronic hepatitis, sIL 2R levels increased in proportion to the inflammatory activity, and correlated well with serum transaminase (glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase: SGOT, glutamic pyruvic transaminase: SGPT) activities, but not with blood urea nitrogen or creatinine concentrations. In patients with a high degree of focal and piecemeal necrosis, serum sIL 2R levels increased further during recombinant interleukin 2 therapy. In post-hepatitic liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, sIL 2R levels correlated with serum cholinesterase and creatinine concentrations, but not with transaminase activities. Measurement of serum sIL 2R levels in patients with liver disease but without renal injury, may help in the diagnosis of inflammation in hepatitis, a process in which interleukin 2 may participate.