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Cytokine regulation of the acute‐phase protein levels in multiple myeloma
Author(s) -
Lajos Bíró,
Gyula Domján,
András Falus,
László Jakab,
Károly Cseh,
László Kopper,
Gábor Tarkovács,
J. Tresch,
Ernst Malle,
J. Kramer,
Zoltán Prohászka,
János Jakó,
George Füst,
Albert Császár
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
european journal of clinical investigation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.164
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1365-2362
pISSN - 0014-2972
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2362.1998.00333.x
Subject(s) - multiple myeloma , cytokine , acute phase protein , interleukin 6 , medicine , immunology , cancer research , inflammation
Background Interleukin (IL) 6 has an important role in the regulation of acute‐phase proteins (APPs) during an acute‐phase response. We studied IL‐6 and other cytokines to determine if they regulate serum APP levels in the same way under the condition of the aberrant, long‐lasting ‘acute‐phase response’ that occurs in patients with chronic inflammation and cancer. Methods Serum levels of nine positive APPs [CRP, SAA, C1‐INH, Bf, C5, C8, C9, α 1 ‐acidic glycoprotein (AGP) and haptoglobin] and two negative APPs [transferrin and α 2 ‐HS glycoprotein (AHSG)] were measured using immunochemical methods in 59 multiple myeloma patients and in 72 healthy control subjects. Serum IL‐6 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF) α levels were determined by bioassays. Results IL‐6 was negatively correlated with five out of nine (C1‐INH, C8, C9, AGP and haptoglobin) positive APPs but positively correlated with C‐reactive protein (CRP). When patients with high and low IL‐6 serum concentration were compared, CRP levels were higher, AGP and haptoglobin levels were lower in the high‐ than in the low‐L‐6 group, whereas no significant difference between the two groups was found in levels of the other positive and negative APPs. TNF‐α levels were negatively correlated with transferrin and AHSG levels. No difference in the levels of positive APPs was observed between patients with low and high TNF‐α serum concentration. By contrast, levels of both transferrin and AHSG were significantly lower in the high‐ than in the low‐TNF‐α group. Conclusions These findings indicate that, except for regulation of the negative APPs by TNF‐α, the mechanism of APP regulation is different under the conditions of the short‐term and the chronic, long‐lasting ‘acute‐phase reaction’.