title: The levels of TNF alpha, IL4 and IL10 production by T-cells in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (B-CLL).
abstract: Tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha), interleukin (IL) 4 and IL10 are important for the growth and survival of the leukaemic cells in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (B-CLL). The present study investigates the production of TNF alpha, IL4 and IL10 in patients with B-CLL. Significant increases in the TNF alpha and IL4 mean levels compared to normal control CD2(+)-cells were observed for B-CLL lymphocytes (TNF alpha: P=0.0004 and IL4: P=0.0026). By contrast, the mean level of IL10 produced by purified B-CLL CD2(+)-cells was significantly lower than that seen with normal control T-cells (P=0.0136). No significant difference in the percentage (%) of T-cells that expressed cytoplasmic TNF alpha, IL4 and IL10 was observed between B-CLL and normal T-cells. However, a significant increase in the mean level of intracellular TNF alpha and IL4 expression was observed in B-CLL compared with normal control T-cells (TNF alpha: P=0.031; IL4: P=0.0027). The increased expression of cytoplasmic TNF alpha and IL4 appeared to be associated with increased cytokine production in the tested samples. The differences observed with some B-CLL cases in the production of TNF alpha, IL4 and IL10 by peripheral blood T-cells may suggest survival mechanisms for the leukaemic cells in these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, School of Clinical and Laboratory Sciences, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Queen Victoria Road, New Castle upon Tyne, NE1 4 LP, UK. Tryfonia.Mainou-Fowler@ncl.ac.uk
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mainou-Fowler
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Proctor
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Dickinson
mesh_terms: D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D002455:Cell Division; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4