Interleukin 2, 4, 5 are high, what does it mean?

[TiredSam]

Above my results from the Charite in Berlin, showing my values above the normal range. These values were not listed or discussed in the "abnormal values" section of my report, but they look quite high to me. I'd be very grateful if any of you extremely clever types could tell me what this means, and if you could phrase your answer as if you were addressing a 5-year-old child that would be great .

 

[Valentijn]

@TiredSam - Kegg Pathways is a great place to look to see what pathways are shared by different gene products. In your case, those three are all part of:

• Jak-STAT signaling
• T-cell receptor signaling
• Intestinal immune network for IgA production
• Autoimmune thyroid disease
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Allograft rejection

Allograft is probably not relevant, and Jak-STAT isn't really specific to those cytokines. Were TGFB, IL10, IL6, or other cytokine-related levels tested?

 

[halcyon]

I believe those are all th2 cytokines, which are known to be elevated in ME patients.

 

[Valentijn]

I believe those are all th2 cytokines, which are known to be elevated in ME patients.

IL4 and IL5 are part of Th2, but IL2 is part of Th1.

 

[TiredSam]

Thanks very much for the replies chaps

Were TGFB, IL10, IL6, or other cytokine-related levels tested?

There is a complete list of everything that was tested here:

http://forums.phoenixrising.me/index.php?entries/trip-to-the-charite-in-berlin-part-9.2019/

I'd be happy to share any of my values if you think they are relevant.

I am way out of my depth here.

 

[Valentijn]

There is a complete list of everything that was tested here:

It looks like IL8, IL10, IFNy and TNFA were tested, but presumably normal.

If IL4 and IL5 are effected, IL10 is usually along for the ride. So that would possibly rule out the pathways for intestinal IgA production, T-cell signaling, and autoimmune thyroid disease.

The remaining pathway where those results could make sense is the Inflammatory Bowel Disease, with those cytokines being listed in the "Th1 lymphocyte" box. No idea if that's at all in line with your symptoms though https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inflammatory_bowel_disease#Signs_and_symptoms

 

[justy]

If I were addressing a 5 year old child then perhaps - 'there are some naughty 'things' inside you that are making you feel ill all over'.

Does that help

 

[worldbackwards]

Or if you were a middle aged man with ME: there's nothing wrong with you, stop asking questions and pull yourself together.

 

[TiredSam]

It looks like IL8, IL10, IFNy and TNFA were tested, but presumably normal.

If IL4 and IL5 are effected, IL10 is usually along for the ride. So that would possibly rule out the pathways for intestinal IgA production, T-cell signaling, and autoimmune thyroid disease.

The remaining pathway where those results could make sense is the Inflammatory Bowel Disease, with those cytokines being listed in the "Th1 lymphocyte" box. No idea if that's at all in line with your symptoms though https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inflammatory_bowel_disease#Signs_and_symptoms

IL8 is 88.4 (should be < 150)
IL 10 is 66 (should be 25-364)
Interferon gamma is 1016 (should be 265-6781)
TNFA 4hLPS is 1334 (should be 300-2000)
TNFA (CBA) is 398 (should be 68-1976)

I have no bowel problems thank you very much indeed.

If I were addressing a 5 year old child then perhaps - 'there are some naughty 'things' inside you that are making you feel ill all over'.

Does that help

I am going to throw such a tantrum in a minute ...

 

[Valentijn]

I have no bowel problems thank you very much indeed.

It might be a similar or identical process triggered by something else. Oh, and I think the funny symbol means IL4 and IL5 are being indirectly inhibited by T-bet in the "Th1 Lymphocyte" block. Whereas IL2 is being indirectly activated by T-bet after a few steps.

So, um, no idea! But you're very special

The Jak-STAT pathway might be worth looking into. It's getting mentioned in a few places involving your elevated cytokines, but their detailed map for it isn't showing Jak-shit (hurhur) regarding those cytokines.

 

[TiredSam]

Just writing part 10 of my blog and found this in my report:

T-Cell function after 24h polyvalenter ConA-Stimulation: TNFa, lFNg, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10 normal

Don't know if that changes anything? Hopefully I'm still special

 

[J.G]

Interesting thread. I've been thinking about getting my cytokines tested too.

My thoughts: if chronic, post 3yr ME is indeed characterised by widespread immune dysregulation (to borrow Hornig's cutoff point and remarks), then your cytokine patterns could be reflective of that. This dysregulation in ME might bear a specific cytokine signature or may present differently both across patients and over time. We don't really know yet.

If semi-random dysregulation is the norm, it will be difficult to attribute specific symptoms to one particular cytokine or a small combination of them. It's the big picture that matters. So yeah, perhaps the fact that your cytokine patterns don't fit anywhere is itself the number 1 takeaway.

 

[TiredSam]

Interesting thread. I've been thinking about getting my cytokines tested too.

My thoughts: if chronic, post 3yr ME is indeed characterised by widespread immune dysregulation (to borrow Hornig's cutoff point and remarks), then your cytokine patterns could be reflective of that. This dysregulation in ME might bear a specific cytokine signature or may present differently both across patients and over time. We don't really know yet.

If semi-random dysregulation is the norm, it will be difficult to attribute specific symptoms to one particular cytokine or a small combination of them. It's the big picture that matters. So yeah, perhaps the fact that your cytokine patterns don't fit anywhere is itself the number 1 takeaway.

Thanks, still interested in opinions of anyone who knows about this stuff .

In 3 months it'll be 3 years since onset.