Premium
Serum level of interleukin‐16 in multiple myeloma patients and its relationship to disease activity
Author(s) -
Alexandrakis Michael G.,
Passam Freda H.,
Kyriakou Despina S.,
Christophoridou Anna V.,
Perisinakis Kostas,
Hatzivasili Aria,
Foudoulakis Andreas,
Castanas Elias
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
american journal of hematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.456
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1096-8652
pISSN - 0361-8609
DOI - 10.1002/ajh.10444
Subject(s) - multiple myeloma , stage (stratigraphy) , gastroenterology , medicine , pathogenesis , chemotherapy , interleukin 6 , immunology , inflammation , biology , paleontology
Interleukin‐16 (IL‐16) is a chemoattractant of CD4(+) lymphocytes, and it has been implicated in the pathogenesis of various inflammatory diseases. There is evidence that it may have a role in multiple myeloma (MM). In the present study, we determined the serum level of IL‐16 both before and after treatment of MM and related it to inflammatory markers and survival. Forty‐eight newly diagnosed MM patients were included in the study. Disease stage was defined using the Durie–Salmon classification system (10 patients were in stage I, 19 in stage II, and 19 in stage III). After standard treatment, 22 patients reached the plateau phase and were re‐evaluated. The following serum parameters were measured: IL‐16, IL‐6, α‐1 antitrypsin (α1AT), and C‐reactive protein (CRP). Survival was determined as the number of months elapsed since original diagnosis. The mean ± SD of serum IL‐16 was 343 ± 195 pg/ml in the pre‐treatment MM group and 101 ± 30 pg/ml in the control group. All measured parameters were higher in the patient group compared to healthy controls. Furthermore, IL‐16, IL‐6, α1AT, and CRP were significantly increased with increasing stage of disease, from stage I to stage III ( P < 0.01). All parameters decreased significantly following effective chemotherapy ( P < 0.002). Patients with a high level of IL‐16 (>430 pg/ml) displayed an inferior survival time in comparison to those with lower levels of IL‐16. In the pre‐treatment group, IL‐16 correlated with α1AT and IL‐6 ( r = 0.374, P < 0.01 and r = 0.454, P < 0.002, respectively). IL‐16 may play a role in multiple myeloma; however, further functional studies are required. Am. J. Hematol. 75:101–106, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.