EFFECTS OF HEMATOPOIETIC GROWTH-FACTORS ON INTERLEUKIN-6 SECRETION BYBLAST CELLS DERIVED FROM ACUTE MYELOGENOUS LEUKEMIA PATIENTS

Interleukin 6 (IL6) secretion by blast cells derived from peripheral b lood of patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) was characteriz ed. IL6 secretion showed a wide variation both when AML blasts were cu ltured in medium alone and in the presence of exogenous cytokines. The level of IL6 secretion was significantly correlated to secretion of o ther cytokines (IL1 alpha, IL1 beta, granulocyte colony-stimulating fa ctor, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, tumor necrosis factor alpha). IL1 beta, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating fa ctor, macrophage colony-stimulating factor and stem cell factor increa sed IL6 secretion, whereas IL4 caused decreased IL6 secretion together with increased release of IL1 receptor antagonist.