Cytoplasmic cytokines in lymphoproliferative disorders: Multiple cytokine production in angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy with dysproteinemia

Cytokines play an important role in the pathogenesis of lymphomas via autoc rine or paracrine mechanisms, or both. Here we determined the proportion of CD3-positive T lymphocytes containing various types of cytokines in enlarg ed lymph nodes. Lymph nodes were obtained from 16 patients with various lym phoproliferative disorders, including 3 cases with angioimmunoblastic lymph adenopathy with dysproteinemia (AILD), 3 cases with adult T cell leukemia/l ymphoma (ATLL), 2 cases with T-cell nonspecific malignant lymphoma (T-ML), 3 cases with B-cell diffuse large malignant lymphoma (BDL), 3 cases with hi stiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis (HNL), and 2 cases with non-specific ly mphadenitis (NSL), The percentages of T lymphocytes positive for cytoplasmi c cytokines IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-13, TNF-alpha, and INF-gamma were de termined. The percentage of INF-gamma positive T lymphocytes was high in re active lymphadenopathy of NSL and HNL. AILD showed a high proportion of TNF -alpha positive T-lymphocytes, and in addition, the percentages of IL-2, IL -4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-13 and INF-gamma positive T-lymphocytes were relatively higher than in other diseases. Our results supported the state of multiple hypercytokinemia typically seen in AILD and suggested that the source of th e cytokines is the lymph nodes. Our results also suggested that multiple cy tokine networks play an important role in the clinical and histopathologica l features of AILD. Modulation of the cytokine network may be the logical o bjective in future therapeutic strategies designed for AILD.