The Role of soluble lnterleukin-2 Receptor (sll-2R) in the Pathogenesis of Pemphigus Vulgaris

Abstract

PV is an autoimmune intraepithelial blistering disease that produces cutaneous and/or mucous membranes lesions.

Recently much more attention has been paid to the role of autoreactive T cells, secreting high levels of IL-2 and siL-2R, in the induction and regulation of AAb production by B cells, in the immunopathogenesis of PV.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the possible role of autoreactive T cells, helping and stimulating AAb production by B cells, in the pathogenesis of PV through measuring siL-2R levels in serum and blister fluid of these PV patients before and after treatment.

The present study included twenty patients (thirteen males and nine females) suffering from mucocutaneous PV. This in addition to ten healthy subjects with second-degree bums (skin involvement less than 5%), free from any skin or autoimmune diseases, were taken as Controls.

Full clinical examination was performed and the extent of the lesions for each patient was determined by the surgical rule of nines (Raines and Richie, 1981).

In addition, buccal mucosal biopsies were taken from all PV patients, before treatment, and examined histopathologically to confirm the clinical diagnosis.

All PV patients were treated with Prednisone [5mg/tab] given orally using the standard dosage of 1 mg/kg/day with individual variations (60-