A Study of Interleukin-2 Activity in Behçet's Syndrome

ABSTRACT

This study was undertaken to investigate immunological mechanisms in Behçet's syndrome, a function considered important in the pathogenesis of the disease. The activity of interleukin-2 (IL-2), which is believed, to play a central role in the regulation of both cell-mediated and humoral T cell-dependent immune responses, measured in 46 patients with complete, in-complete or suspected Behçet's syndrome. The results were as follows 1 . There was no significant difference between the average IL-2 activity of patients and control group. 2. For each clinical subtype of Behçet's syndrome, IL-2 activity was lower than the control value, but the difference was not statistically significant. 3. In mucocutaneous and ocular types, the greater the clinical symptoms, the lower the value of IL-2 activity. However, the decrease of IL-2 activity was not statistically significant. In conclusion, IL-2 activity of phytohemaggludnin (PHIS-stimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes in patients with Behçet's syndrome was not significantly decreased compared to control population.