Soluble Interleukin-2 Receptor Levels in Patients with Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Abstract

Utilizing an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, we detected markedly elevated serum levels of soluble interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptors in patients with untreated pulmonary tuberculosis. In these patients, we also found that serum levels of soluble IL-2 receptors were closely correlated with serum adenosine deaminase levels (r=0.869, p<0.001). Therefore, serum soluble IL-2 receptors appear to reflect the existence of active cell-mediated immunity in pulmonary tuberculosis and may prove to be a useful immunological marker for pulmonary tuberculosis.