Characterization of T-cell subsets, soluble interleukin-2 receptors and interleukin-6 in Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease.

The lymphocyte subunits and subsets of 12 patients with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease (VKH disease) were characterized using two-color flow cytometry techniques, both in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and in peripheral blood (PB). Soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) levels and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were also measured. The percentage of T cells was significantly higher in CSF than in PB (P less than 0.01), but the percentage of B cells was decreased in CSF (P less than 0.05). As for T-cell subsets, the percentage of helper T cells was especially high in CSF (P less than 0.01). Also, the ratio of helper T cells/suppressor T cells was significantly larger in CSF than in PB. These data suggest that helper T cells play an important role in the early stages of VKH disease. sIL-2R and IL-6 levels were not elevated in CSF of patients with VKH disease. The level of sIL-2R in serum also was not elevated.