title: Role of cytokines in the pathogenesis of anemia of chronic disease in rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: The aim of our study was to evaluate the role of proinflammatory cytokines: tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha), interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), and interleukin-6 (IL-6), as well as the possible contribution of interleukin-10 (IL-10) in anemia of chronic disease (ACD) of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. We measured the serum levels of TNFalpha, IL-1beta, and IL-6 in 105 anemic and 127 nonanemic RA patients. We also investigated the effects of the above cytokines on the development of burst-forming units-erythroid (BFUe) and colony-forming units-erythroid (CFUe) in bone marrow cultures. Anemic patients had significantly higher serum levels of TNFalpha, IL-1beta, and IL-6 compared to nonanemics. Serum IL-10 levels were low and there was no significant difference in IL-10 concentrations between anemic and nonanemic patients. Proinflammatory cytokines inhibited proliferation of BFUe and CFUe. IL-10 did not decrease the erythroid colony growth. Proinflammatory cytokines may play a role in the pathogenesis of ACD in RA patients. Low levels of IL-10 possibly contribute to the development of ACD.
authors.affiliation: Medical School, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, 451 10, Greece.
authors.forename: P V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Voulgari
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kolios
authors.forename: G K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Papadopoulos
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Katsaraki
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Seferiadis
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Drosos
mesh_terms: D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10