Serum cytokine levels and acute graft-versus-host disease after HLA-identical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate whether the serum levels of soluble interleukin-2R (sIL-2R), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), IL-6, IL-10, and transforming growth factor-beta(1) (TGF-beta(1)) were associated with the development of acute graft-vs-host disease (aGVHD).


METHODS
Serum cytokine levels were sequentially measured by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 13 patients who had received full-match allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).


RESULTS
Serum sIL-2R and IL-10 levels from the 1st to the 15th week post transplantation were significantly higher in the group that developed aGVHD than in the group without aGVHD. sIL-2R levels increased in direct correlation to engraftment and at onset of aGVHD, whereas IL-10 levels increased transiently following HSCT. The mean TNF-alpha concentration in the first weeks after transplantation was augmented in the group that developed aGVHD. Furthermore, a decrease in TGF-beta(1) levels after engraftment was significantly associated with aGVHD. No correlation was found between aGVHD and the other cytokines.


CONCLUSIONS
These results support the idea that a balance between cytokines derived from type 1 and type 2 T-helper cells may be important in the development and control of aGVHD. Although sIL-2R, TNF-alpha, IL-10, and TGF-beta(1) levels have been correlated with aGVHD, sIL-2R levels at engraftment may provide a better parameter for early detection of aGVHD after allogeneic HSCT.
Clinical Analysis Department, Maringa State University, Maringa, Brazil. jelvisentainer@uem.br
Jeane Eliete Laguila
JE
Visentainer
Sofia Rocha
SR
Lieber
Lígia Beatriz Lopes
LB
Persoli
Afonso Celso
AC
Vigorito
Francisco José Penteado
FJ
Aranha
Kátia Aparecida
KA
de Brito Eid
Gislaine Borba
GB
Oliveira
Eliana Cristina Martins
EC
Miranda
Cármino Antonio
CA
de Souza
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000209:etiology*; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000097:blood; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D019172:Transplantation Conditioning; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis
D016207:Cytokines; D015850:Interleukin-6; C508960:TGFB1 protein, human; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10; D007371:Interferon-gamma