Interleukin 2 receptor membrane bound and in soluble form in the aqueous humor and peripheral blood of patients with acute untreated uveitis.

Uveitis is a manifestation of various chronic inflammatory arthritic conditions. There are considerable data implicating abnormalities of immune function in the etiopathogenesis of uveitis. We evaluated the percentage of cells expressing interleukin 2 (IL-2) receptor (membrane bound) and the levels of soluble IL-2 in the blood and aqueous humor of patients in various rheumatic diseases and acute untreated uveitis. Our findings showed increased IL-2 receptors (IL-2R) and soluble IL-2 receptors on the aqueous humor of patients with uveitis when compared to healthy controls. These results suggest an immunoregulatory role of IL-2R in acute uveitis and raises the possibility that its detection may be useful in management.