Cytokine profiles in acute myeloid leukemia patients at diagnosis: Survival is inversely correlated with IL-6 and directly correlated with IL-10 levels

Abstract

BackgroundSeveral evidences support the existence of cytokine deregulation in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients that may be associated with pathogenesis, disease progression and patient survival. MethodsIn the present study, we analyzed plasma levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in AML patients and age-matched healthy donors. TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, IL-2, IFN-γ, IL-17A, IL-12p70, IL-8, IL-10, IL-4 and IL-5 were analyzed using fluorescent bead-based technology and TGF-β by ELISA technique. Because age-associated differences in cytokine profiles have been described, patients and healthy individuals were divided into two age groups: up to 65years and over 65years. ResultsOur results showed that plasma TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10 levels were higher in AML patients from both groups of age. IL-8 was increased in AML patients less than 65years while the plasma concentrations of IL-4, IL-5 and IL-12p70 were significantly higher only in elderly AML patients compared with aged-matched healthy controls. Moreover, plasma levels of IL-6 and IL-10 were associated with patient survival and event-free survival. ConclusionsAn aberrant production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α and the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 is observed in AML patients. Low levels of IL-6 and high levels of IL-10 represent favorable prognostic factors for survival in AML patients. These results support the idea that cytokine deregulation may be useful as a marker for predicting clinical evolution in AML patients.