網膜色素変性症患者の末梢リンパ球interleukin−2リセプター

Interleukin-2 receptor in peripheral lymphocytes in primary retinitis pigmentosa

　網膜色素変性症患者15例の末梢IL−2Rリンパ球数を健常者15例と比較検討し，その細胞障害性免疫機構について検討した。その結果健常者と網膜色素変性症患者の末梢IL−2Rリンパ球数はそれぞれ年齢との間に相関関係はなかった。網膜色素変性症患者の末梢IL−2Rリンパ球数は健常者との間に有意差がなかった。性別，視野変化，推定発症期間，遺伝形式による末梢IL−2Rリンパ球数は各群，健常者と比較してそれぞれ有意な差はなかった。今回の結果では網膜色素変性症の細胞障害性免疫の活性化は見出せなかった。

Background: Activated lymphocytes in patients with primary retinitis pigmentosa, RP, are known to be cytotoxic to human retinal pigment epithelial cells in vitro, suggesting pathological levels of interleukin-2-receptor, IL-2R, in the peripheral lymphocytes in RP.

Method and results: IL-2R expression was measured by flow cytometry in 15 patients with RP. Another 15 normal persons served as control. IL-2R level was 88.8±47.9/ml in PR patients and 87.7±21.1/ml in controls. The difference was not significant. The level in PR was independent of sex, age, genetic type, duration of disease or visual field status. Conclusion: Immune-mediated cytopathologic effects by activated lymphocytes do not contribute to progressive disturbance of neural retina or retinal pigment epithelium in PR patients.