title: Clinical significance of interleukin-22 in multiple myeloma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Interleukin-22 (IL-22) is a cytokine participating in many aspects of inflammation. Multiple myeloma (MM) is a malignant disease of plasma cells with characteristic immune deregulation. We estimated serum levels of IL-22 in MM patients, both in activity and remission, in order to apprehend its possible participation in MM biology.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured serum levels of IL-22 along with beta-2 microglobulin (B2M), paraprotein, and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), as well as degree of bone marrow infiltration, in 51 patients with active MM and in 22 of them in remission.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that IL-22 was higher in active MM patients, compared to both controls and patients in remission, and also in patients in remission compared to controls. Moreover, IL-22 was increasing in parallel with the disease stage and also correlated with B2M, IL1-beta, and degree of infiltration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We suggest that the elevated levels of IL-22 in active MM patients, in parallel with disease activity, and in positive correlation with IL-1beta, may represent the inflammatory element of the disease. This increased occurrence of IL-22 may enhance myeloma proliferation and growth, and moreover, may participate in the mechanisms of immune deregulation.
authors: George
authors: G
authors: Tsirakis
authors: Constantina A
authors: CA
authors: Pappa
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Kolovou
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Kokonozaki
authors: Ioannis
authors: I
authors: Neonakis
authors: Michael G
authors: MG
authors: Alexandrakis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000097:blood; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000097:blood; D000097043:Interleukin-22
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D007378:Interleukins; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin; D000097043:Interleukin-22
keywords: Angiogenesis; Cytokines; Inflammation; Interleukin-22; Multiple myeloma