SOLUBLE INTERLEUKIN-2 RECEPTORS - CLINICAL-VALUE AND BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Increased levels of the soluble form of the low-affinity receptor for interleukin 2 have been found in various clinical situations associated with immune system activation: infections, haematological disorders, autoimmune diseases, graft rejection, etc. Increased levels are usually associated with a higher stage of activity of the disease and correlated with a more severe prognosis. Reduction of levels precedes the treatment-induced clinical improvement. However, the prognostic value of these fluctuations might be limited by the level increases induced by infections. The immunological role of this receptor remains to be demonstrated and is probably not limited to interleukin 2 binding.