title: In vitro effect of lithium chloride on interleukin-15 production by monocytes from IL-breast cancer patients.
abstract: Lithium salt compounds are used to limit the degree and duration of neutropenia in patients receiving chemotherapy for cancer. Interleukin-15 (IL-15) is a cytokine which possesses promoting activities on hematopoiesis and is also involved in antitumor response, activating NK, CTL and LAK cells. In this study we analyzed IL-15 production by monocyte cultures treated with lithium chloride (LiCl). Monocytes were obtained from patients affected by non-metastatic and metastatic breast cancer. LiCl treatment induced IL-15 production by monocytes mainly from non-metastatic patients. Combined lipopolysaccharide/LiCl treatment of monocyte cultures up-regulated IL-15 release compared to those treated with LPS alone (p<0.0001). The modulation of LiCl-induced IL-15 could counteract the immunosuppression state of cancer patients, which should be taken into account when developing new immunotherapeutic strategies.
authors.affiliation: Immunopathology, Institute of Medical Pathology and Mediterranean Medicine, University of Messina Medical School, Italy.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Merendino
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arena
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gangemi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ruello
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Losi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bene
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Valenti
authors.forename: F P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: D'Ambrosio
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019409:Interleukin-15 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D018021:Lithium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D009367:Neoplasm Staging
chemical_list: D019409:Interleukin-15; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D018021:Lithium Chloride