title: IFN-beta induced biochemical and immunological modifications in hairy cell leukemia patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although IFN-beta is 30-40% homologous with IFN-alpha, its intrinsic biological properties are not identical. Compared with IFN-alpha, IFN-beta exerts greater in vitro antiproliferative activity on many cell lines, stimulates peripheral blood stem cells of hairy-cell leukemia (HCL) patients to differentiate to erythroid burst forming cells, has higher specific type I IFN receptor affinity and modulates the expression of class II histocompatibility antigens. IFN-beta would, therefore, be expected to have a greater, or at least similar, antitumor activity as that of the various types of IFN-alpha.
  
  
  METHODS
  We have treated 12 patients affected by HCL with IFN-beta and have investigated the biological and immunological changes induced by such treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A rise in beta 2-microglobulin and neopterin values throughout IFN-beta therapy was documented in most patients. An increase in NK activity was observed only in clinical responders whose CD57+/CD16+ cell ratio dropped below baseline. There was also a modulation in IFN-gamma synthesis that was dependent on baseline levels and in line with the clinical response. IFN-beta provoked a reduction in CD3+ and CD4+ cell subsets in patients with WBC greater than or equal to 10.0 x 10(9)/1 and greater than or equal to 50% circulating HCs, an expansion in absolute number of CD3+ and CD8+ cell fractions and a slight rise in the absolute values of CD2+ and CD4+ cell subpopulations in patients with WBC less than or equal to 5.0 x 10(9)/1 and less than or equal to 50% circulating HCs. There was no correlation between either the IFN-beta induced increase in beta 2-M or Np levels and clinical response. Most immunological parameters improved or normalized later during the course of IFN-beta treatment, when pathological-hematological signs of disease remission were already evident.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The relevance of the IFN-beta induced changes as well as that of the IFN-alpha induced biological effects in the clinical control of HCL remain unclear.
authors.affiliation: Clinica Medica I, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Liberati
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schippa
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Portuesi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grazia Proietti
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: De Angelis
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferrajoli
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cinieri
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Di Clemente
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Palmisano
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Berruto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D001708:Biopterins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000473:pathology; D007943:Leukemia, Hairy Cell / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D019798:Neopterin; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin; D001708:Biopterins; D019798:Neopterin; D016899:Interferon-beta; D007371:Interferon-gamma