title: Evaluation of interleukin-23 plasma levels in patients with polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia.
abstract: Essential thrombocythemia (ET), polycythemia vera (PV) and myelofibrosis share the same acquired genetic lesion, JAK2V617F. It is believed that cytokines participate in the activation of JAK2V617F. In this study, we analyzed the plasma levels of interleukin (IL)-23, IL-10 and IL-22 in patients with PV and ET. In the same subjects we also performed analysis of the JAK2(V617F) mutation, and evaluated a possible relationship between interleukin levels and thrombotic complications or with the symptom pruritus. Plasma levels of IL-23 were significantly increased in all patients with MPN in comparison to controls. Moreover, there was a significant difference between the levels of IL-23 in patients affected by PV and those measured in controls (8.57±3.69pg/mL vs. 6.55±4.125pg/mL; p<0.03). No difference was found between IL-23 levels in ET patients and controls. No statistically significant differences were found between the levels of IL-23, Il-22 or IL-10 in PV or ET subjects with or without thrombosis, in patients with or without pruritus, or according the JAK2V617F burden. In PV patients the JAK2 burden and Hb levels correlated with occurrence of pruritus. Our study seems to point out a possible involvement of IL-23 in the pathogenesis of PV.
authors.affiliation: School and Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Department of Human Pathology, University of Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Sebastiano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gangemi
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Allegra
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pace
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alonci
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferraro
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Petrungaro
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saitta
authors.forename: Demetrio
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gerace
authors.forename: Sabina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: Giuseppa
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Penna
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Musolino
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D053759:Interleukin-23 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D053614:Janus Kinase 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D011087:Polycythemia Vera / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D011537:Pruritus / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D013920:Thrombocythemia, Essential / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D000097043:Interleukin-22
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D016753:Interleukin-10; D053759:Interleukin-23; D007378:Interleukins; D053614:Janus Kinase 2; D000097043:Interleukin-22; C508609:IL10 protein, human; C507924:JAK2 protein, human