Elevated Soluble Interleukin-2 Receptor Levels in Serum of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infected Populations

Abstract

Soluble interleukin-2 receptor (SIL-2R) levels in sera were quantitated in asymptomatic intravenous drug abusers (IVDA) and in patients with lymphadenopathy or AIDS. The mean SIL-2R level in serum of normal controls was 158 .+-. 19 compared to 368 .+-. 35 U/ml in serum of HIV-seronegative asymptomatic IVDA. The mean SIL-2R in serum of HIV-seropositive asymptomatic IVDA was 609 .+-. 85 U/ml and in patients with lymphadenopathy was 745 .+-. 79 U/ml. In addition, AIDS patients with Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, Kaposi''s sarcoma or both had elevated mean levels of SIL-2R values with a broad range. This elevated level of SIL-2R may reflect excessive cell surface IL-2R expansion by the infected cells.