SERUM LEVELS OF MULTIPLE CYTOKINES AND ADHESION MOLECULES IN PATIENTS WITH NEWLY DIAGNOSED ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC LEUKEMIA AND IN HEALTHY SUBJECTS

Background:

Cytokines and adhesion molecules have been studied as markers of immune system activation in various diseases including hematological malignancies. Alterations in this network may have direct effect on the malignant cells or have indirect effect on leukemogenesis through altered functions of bone marrow stromal elements. The knowledge gained from multiple cytokine and adhesion molecule analysis should allow better diagnosis and disease management.

Aims:

The aim of our study was to evaluate serum cytokine and adhesion molecule levels by biochip array technology in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and in healthy subjects.

Methods:

Serum samples of 15 newly diagnosed ALL patients (median age 46, range 24 - 63 years, 11 males) and 15 healthy subjects (median age 41, range 25 - 58 years, 11 males) were analyzed. We evaluated serum levels of the following 22 cytokines and adhesion molecules: interleukins (IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13, IL-23), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), epidermal growth factor (EGF), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), E-selectin, L-selectin, P-selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1). All biomarkers were measured by biochip array technology on Evidence Investigator analyzer (Randox). Probability values (p) < 0.01 were considered statistically significant.

Results:

In newly diagnosed ALL patients, we found significant increase in serum VCAM-1 (1078.54 ± 456.96 mcg/L vs. 328.31 ± 88.66 mcg/L; p < 0.000001), ICAM-1 (499.57 ± 237.53 mcg/L vs. 196.69 ± 36.06 mcg/L; p < 0.0001), L-selectin (2366.33 ± 1035.37 mcg/L vs. 1104.54 ± 243.45 mcg/L; p < 0.0001), IL-8 (34.07 ± 28.52 ng/L vs. 4.87 ± 3.09 ng/L; p < 0.001), MCP-1 (433.99 ± 328.59 ng/L vs. 153.25 ± 53.60 ng/L; p < 0.01). On the other hand, we found significant decrease in serum IL-3 (7.34 ± 3.41 ng/L vs. 11.53 ± 4.66 ng/L; p < 0.01), IL-4 (1.10 ± 1.08 ng/L vs. 3.27 ± 2.21 ng/L; p < 0.01). Serum levels of other evaluated cytokines and adhesion molecules were without significant differences.

Summary / Conclusion:

Our results indicate that serum levels of some cytokines and adhesion molecules (VCAM-1, ICAM-1, L-selectin, IL-8, IL-3, IL-4, MCP-1) are significantly altered in patients with newly diagnosed ALL, reflecting activity of the disease. Whether these alterations could have a prognostic meaning for ALL is not known. Further studies in a larger number of patients and comparing cytokine and adhesion molecule levels with established prognostic markers will be essential to assess the potential role of these and additional markers in the stratification of risk in ALL patients.

The work was supported by a long-term organization development plan 1011 (FMHS).

Keywords: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia, Cytokine, Prognosis

Abstrakta v časopise Haematologica 2013, Suppl1

Online Program