Increased concentrations ofinterleukin 1I3, interleukin-2, andsoluble interleukin-2 receptorsin endoscopical mucosal biopsy specimens withactive inflammatory bowel disease

Concentrations of interleukin-13 (IL-1>), interleukin-2 (IL-2), and soluble IL-2 receptors (sIL-2R) weredetermined by enzyme linkedimmunosorbent assays (ELISA) insupernatants ofsonicated endoscopical mucosal biopsy specimens from31 patients withinflammatory boweldisease and 19controls. IL-1lB wasdetected in53%ofthe patient supernatants (p=00001), IL-2in35% (p=00031), compared withnoneofthecontrols. Soluble IL-2Rwaspresent in55%and 26%ofthespecimens, respectively (p=007). Theconcentrations ofIL-1(p=000015), IL-2(p=00019), andsIL-2R (p=00073) were highest inthemostinflamed biopsy specimens, compared withless inflamed specimens and controls. Therewerenosignificant differences inIL-113, IL-2, andsIL-2Rconcentrations between ulcerative colitis (16)andCrohn's disease patients (15). Theresults suggest that enhanced celiular immunity operates invivo atthemucosal level inactive inflammatory bowel disease.