title: Increased IL-17 and TGF-β serum levels in peripheral blood of patients with β-thalassemia major: implication for continual transfusions role in T helper17-mediated proinflammatory responses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recent studies have shown that IL-17-producing CD4+ T helper (Th17) cells play an important role in proinflammatory processes. In this report we analyzed IL-17, IL-21, and TGF-β serum levels in the peripheral blood of Iranian beta-thalassemia major patients that clinically exhibited splenectomy and iron overload.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples were collected from 43 beta-thalassemia patients and 43 healthy individuals with no history of malignancies or autoimmune disorders. Then serum levels of IL-17, IL-21, and TGF-β were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The levels of IL-17 (P = 0.005) and TGF-β (P < 0.001) were significantly higher in the thalassemia patients compared to the healthy control. No significant differences in the level of serum IL-21 was observed between the patients and controls. There were no significant differences in serum levels of IL-17, IL-21, and TGF-β between patients with high or low serum levels of ferritin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Multiple blood transfusions cause constant immune stimulation, as a result of repeated exposure to new alloantigens. This might have significant effects on the stimulation of cytokine producing cells in those patients and cytokine profile can be used as a related marker for assessing disease severity and consequently therapeutic intervention.
authors: Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, Iran.
authors: Rasoul
authors: R
authors: Baharlou
authors: Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, Iran.
authors: Mohammad Hassan
authors: MH
authors: Davami
authors: Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, Iran.
authors: Abbas
authors: A
authors: Ahmadi Vasmehjani
authors: Department of Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, Iran.
authors: Morteza
authors: M
authors: Ebrahimi
mesh_terms: D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D020381:Interleukin-17; D007492:Iran; D058504:Th17 Cells; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D017086:beta-Thalassemia
chemical_list: D020381:Interleukin-17; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta
keywords: Beta-thalassemia; interleukin-17; interleukin-21; transforming growth factor beta