Role of cytokines in the pathogenesis of anemia of chronic disease in rheumatoid arthritis

The aim of our study was to evaluate the role of proinflammatory cytokines: tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), a nd interleukin-6 (IL-6), as well as the possible contribution of interleuki n-10 (IL-10) in anemia of chronic disease (ACD) of rheumatoid arthritis (RA ) patients. We measured the serum levels of TNF alpha; IL-1 beta, and IL-6 in 105 anemic and 127 nonanemic RA patients. We also investigated the effec ts of the above cytokines on the development of burst-forming units-erythro id (BFUe) and colony-forming units-erythroid (CFUe) in bone marrow cultures . Anemic patients had significantly higher serum levels of TNF alpha, IL-1 beta, and IL-6 compared to nonanemics, Serum IL-10 levels were low and ther e was no significant difference in IL-10 concentrations between anemic and nonanemic patients. Proinflammatory cytokines inhibited proliferation of BF Ue and CFUe. IL-10 did not decrease the erythroid colony growth. Proinflamm atory cytokines may play a role in the pathogenesis of ACD in RA patients. Low levels of IL-10 possibly contribute to the development of ACD. (C) 1999 Academic Press.