title: Serum levels of tumour necrosis factor-alpha in patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.
abstract: Serum levels of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) have been evaluated in the peripheral blood of 91 patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (B-CLL), and have been correlated with the clinical stage (according to Rai's staging system) and relevant haematological and immunological data. Increased values were detected, compared to 36 normal age-matched controls (36 pg/ml +/- 5 versus 0.11 pg/ml +/- 0.08; P < 0.05). An increase of TNF-alpha serum levels was observed in all stages including stage 0, with a progressive increase in relation to the stage of the disease. A significant relationship between serum TNF-alpha levels and the number of circulating monocytes (P < 0.002) and an inverse correlation with the level of the haemoglobin (P < 0.001) was established, as defined by the Pearson's correlation test. In contrast, no correlation was observed between TNF-alpha serum levels and the other parameters taken into account, including the white blood cell and platelet counts, the absolute number of peripheral blood (PB) lymphocytes, CD5+ B lymphocytes, CD57+ lymphocytes, serum levels of lactic dehydrogenase, total serum immunoglobulins and the serum levels of IgG, IgA and IgM. These data suggest that, in addition to the B-CLL neoplastic cells, the PB monocytes may be involved in the release of TNF-alpha.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine, Padua University School of Medicine, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Adami
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guarini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pini
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Siviero
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sancetta
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Massaia
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Trentin
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Foà
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Semenzato
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D006454:Hemoglobins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha