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It has been shown that activated T-cells produce and release both IL-2 and IL-2 receptors (lL-2R). The rate of IL-2 release is proportional to its cell surface expression and state of cell activation. To clarify the molecular basis of this immunological aberration, we analysed the amount of soluble IL-2R (SIL2-R) by an ELISA technique in IiX patients with Behcet'sdisease (BD), 28 patient controls (PC) and 31 normal controls (NC).

The data suggest that the amount of SIL-2R in BD is significantly higher (P< O. 005) than that of NC. The same differences were seen between PC and NC (P< O. 005). However the level of S IL-2R in BD and PC were similar. This study suggests that inhibition of an immunoregulatory cytokine by its soluble receptors might occur ill vivo, as the reduction ofS IL-2R levels approaching control values preceded clinical remission. M. lIRI, Vol. 8, No. 3, 163-166, 1994.