CIRCULATING LEVELS OF CYTOKINES AND SOLUBLE CYTOKINE RECEPTORS IN VARIOUS T-CELL MALIGNANCIES

Background. Cytokines, interleukin (IL)-4, IL-6, interferon-gamma (IFN -alpha), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-gamma), soluble CD23 (sCD23) , and soluble IL-2 receptors (sIL-2R) are mediators of inflammation an d immune response. Alterations in immune status of patients with vario us cancers may result in release of cytokines in circulation. The auth ors measured the circulating levels of IL-4, IL-6, IFN-gamma, TNF-alph a, sCD23, and sIL-2R from patients with T-cell chronic lymphocytic leu kemia (T-CLL), T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) and periphe ral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) to determine their importance in these T-ce ll disorders. Methods. IL-4, IL-6, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, sCD23, and sI L-2R levels were measured from the serum samples by enzyme-linked immu nosorbent assay or bioassay methods. Results. IL-4 levels were higher only in T-CLL, whereas, IFN-gamma and sIL-2R levels were higher in T-C LL and T-ALL. However, IL-6, TNF-alpha, and sCD23 levels were higher i n PTCL. Conclusions. T-cell-derived IL-4 and IFN-gamma in T-CLL may ac t as an autocrine growth factor for proliferation of neoplastic T-cell s. The sIL-2R levels in T-CLL, T-ALL, and PTCL are an indication of th e degree of T-cell or immune activation due to concomitant immunologic processes in these disorders. However, IL-6, TNF-alpha, and sCD23 lev els may contribute to inflammatory response and provide evidence of mo nocyte/macrophage, T-cell, or B-cell aberrations in PTCL.