Evaluation of interleukin-35 and interleukin-10 in adult acute myeloid leukemia patients before and after induction chemotherapy

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a clonal proliferation of hemopoietic cells. Interleukin-35 (IL-35) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine expressed in T regulatory (Treg) and B regulatory cells. IL-35 promotes the proliferation of AML blasts and lessens apoptosis. Hence, IL-35-derived from Tregs promotes the growth of adult AML blasts, suggesting that IL-35 has an important role in the pathogenesis of AML. IL-10 is anti-inflammatory cytokines with immune-stimulatory activities and is formed by CD4 and CD8 T-cells and activated B-lymphocytes.OBJECTIVES: The aim of th study was to estimate the levels of IL-10 and IL-35 in the sera of patients with AML before and after chemotherapy induction and to correlate levels with blast cells percentage and other hematological parameters.PATIENTS, MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted on thirty newly diagnosed (ND), de novo adult AML patients, 15 males and 15 females with a age range between 19 and 75 years for a period from September 20, 2017, to March 15, 2018. It included 18 healthy (9 males and 9 females) individuals who were taken as a control group. Diagnosis of AML was established according to the morphology, cytochemistry and flow cytometry study of both peripheral blood and bone marrow aspiration as well as biopsy reports. ILs-35 and 10 levels were measured at diagnosis and after induction chemotherapy when achieving complete remission based on Cheson et al. definition.RESULTS: Serum IL-35 and IL-10 were significantly higher in ND AML patients than controls and were reduced after induction chemotherapy (P < 0.001). In patients with remission, IL-10 was significantly reduced compared with non-remission group, while the reduction in IL-35 level in remitted compared to nonremitted patients did not reach the level of significance (P > 0.001). No correlations were found between hemoglobin, platelet counts, white cell count, and blast percentage with IL-35 and 10 levels in de novo AML patients.CONCLUSIONS: Both ILs-35 and 10 levels were elevated in de novo AML patients and lowered following induction chemotherapy. Both ILs have no correlation with hemoglobin level, platelet count, white blood cell count, and blast percentage.