Serum soluble IL-2 receptor in hemodialysis and CAPD patients

To clarify the meaning of serum soluble IL-2 receptors changes in hemodialysis (HD) and CAPD patients, we measured slL-2 receptor (slL-2R) by ELISA method in 27 HD, 12 CAPD and 16 normal (N) subjects. In addition, the correlation between slL-2R and circulating immune complexes (CIC) and the complements (CH50, C3, C4, TCC), indicators ofhumoral and cellular immunity, were examined. The results were as follows: Soluble IL-2R levels were significantly higher in HD and CAPD patients than in normal subjects. No significant difference was observed between HD and CAPD patients. CIC levels in both HD group and CAPD group were higher than those of normal subjects. Soluble slL-2 levels in HD patients were positively correlated with C1qCIC (p<0.05), and slL-2R levels in CAPD patients were positively correlated with C1qCIC (p<0.05) and C3dCIC (p<0.02). TCC levels in the two patient groups were significantly higher than those of group N and showed a positive correlation with CIC. There was a negative correlation between slL-2R levels and CH50 in HD group (p<0.02) and CAPD group (p<0.05). These findings uggested that the elevated slL-2R levels in HD and CAPD patients may be related to CIC and the activation fthe complement system due to CIC. These results also suggested that the increased levels of CIC and complement activation observed in the two patient groups, may be associated with uremic status.