High TNF-α and low IL-2 producing T cells characterize active disease in Takayasu's arteritis

We have investigated intracellular production by T cells and plasma levels of TNF-α, IL-2 and IFN-γ in 12 active and 10 inactive Takayasu's arteritis (TA) patients and 12 healthy controls. The active TA compared to inactive TA and controls had higher TNF-α (52.7 ± 22.3% vs. 32.9 ± 14.2% and 35.2 ± 14.5%, respectively; P = 0. 020), lower IL-2 (19.6 ± 13.2% vs. 36.1 ± 10.1% and 31.2 ± 10.3%, respectively; P = 0.010) and comparable IFN-γ (38.6 ± 13.9% vs. 34.2 ± 12.4% and 34.9 ± 11.1%, respectively; P = 0.581) producing CD3+ T cells. There was no difference in the plasma levels of the cytokines between active TA, inactive TA and controls (TNF-α: 79.1 ± 94.5 vs. 72.9 ± 120.0 and 9.5 ± 6.7 pg/ml, P = 0.110; IL-2: 4.3 ± 4.8 vs. 6.6 ± 4.7 and 8.6 ± 4.5 pg/ml, P = 0.094 and IFN-γ: 10.1 ± 11.3 vs. 8.8 ± 8.7 and 8.2 ± 6.5 pg/ml, P = 0.871, respectively). The data show an important role of these high TNF-α and low IL-2 producing T cells in TA.