Characteristic Proinflammatory Serum Cytokine Profiles In Patients with B-Cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Blood ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 116 (21) ◽  
pp. 3595-3595
Author(s):  
James J. Harding ◽  
Raymond Yeh ◽  
Yan Nikhamin ◽  
Mark Frattini ◽  
Nicole Lamanna ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 3595 Background: Cytokines are posited to play a critical regulatory role on the survival of the B-cell neoplastic clone in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL). AIM: The primary goals of this study were 1) to define additional relevant cytokines, growth factors and chemokines in CLL pathophysiology and 2) to correlate abnormal cytokine levels with disease stage, relevant hematological data and multiple prognostic factors. METHODS: A novel bead-based protein array system was employed to simultaneously measure 38 proinflammatory cytokines in the sera of CLL patients (N=116) and healthy age and sex matched controls (N=30). These results were correlated with Rai stage, β2-microglobulin level, LDH, CD38 expression and cytogenetic abnormalities. RESULTS: We first confirmed previous observations that TNFα, IL-1α, IL-1RA, IL-10, sIL-2Rα, VEGF and sCD40 ligand are significantly elevated in patients with CLL as compared with healthy controls. Expanding on the current literature, we demonstrated perturbations in an additional 15 serum cytokines in affected individuals. Compared to healthy controls, CLL patients had an increase in serum levels of IL-3 (p=0.002), IL-7 (p=0.008), INF-2α (p<0.0001), MCP-1 (p<0.0001), MIP-1β (p=0.002), MDC (p<0.0001), Fractakine (p<0.0001), EGF (p<0.0001), FGF-2 (p<0.0001), GRO (p<0.0001), Eotaxin (p<0.0001) and FLT-3 ligand (p<0.0001). Patients with CLL also exhibited significantly lower levels of INF-γ (p<0.01), IL-6 (p<0.005) and IL-8 (p<0.002) when compared to healthy individuals. Advanced Rai stage and high risk chromosomal abnormalities (del 11q and del 17p) strongly correlated with higher serum levels of TNFα, soluble IL-2Rα, IL-10, MCP-1, MIP-1α, MIP-1β and IP-10. Finally, serum levels of TNFα, MIP-1α and MIP-1β correlated with other adverse prognostic markers, including total white blood cell count, serum β2-microglobulin and LDH levels as well as CD38 expression. CONCLUSION: We have demonstrated numerous previously unrecognized cytokine abnormalities in patients with CLL and described a unique cytokine signature associated with advanced disease. Supported by the current understanding of cytokine biology and CLL pathophysiology, our observations suggest an important regulatory role for hematopoietic cytokines, such as IL-3 and IL-7, in promulgating survival of the aberrant B-cell clone. Likewise, the profoundly high levels of chemokines (i.e. MCP-1, MIP-1α, MIP-1β, IP-10) and their association with high risk prognostic factors argue for their role in sustaining the neoplastic microenvironment. Finally, the altered levels of IL-10, IL-6 and INF-γ observed in patients with CLL likely contribute to the immunosuppressive phenotype of the disease state. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

1999 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 277-286 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Robak ◽  
A. Wierzbowska ◽  
M. Błasińska-Morawiec ◽  
A. Korycka ◽  
J. Z. Błoński

We have investigated the serum concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and two IL-6 family cytokines-oncostatin M (OSM) and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF)-in 63 patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) and 17 healthy controls using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Simultaneously, we measured the serum levels of the soluble forms of two subunits of the IL-6 receptor complex-ligand binding glycoprotein 80 (sIL-6R) and glycoprotein 130 (sgp130). The cytokines and receptors were evaluated in 25 untreated patients and 38 patients treated with cladribine (2-CdA), as well as in 17 healthy controls. We have correlated the serum levels of these proteins with Rai's clinical stage of the disease, the response to 2-CdA treatment and some hematological parameters. We have also evaluated the correlation of the IL-6 serum level with the concentration of OSM and IL-6 soluble receptors. IL-6 was measurable in 62/63 (98.4%), OSM in 20/25 (80%) of untreated and 14/38 (37.8%) of the treated patients. sIL-6R and sgp130 were detectable in all 63 patients and LIF in none of the CLL patients. IL-6 serum level in untreated patients was not significantly different as compared to its concentration in the control group (P>0.05). However, in the patients treated with 2-CdA the IL-6 level was significantly lower (P<0.02), and the lowest concentration was found in the patients with complete remission (CR; median 1.4 pg/ml; P<0.02). The concentration of sIL-6R was significantly higher in untreated (median 61.8 ng/ml) and treated (median 50.1 ng/ml) CLL patients when compared to normal persons (median 41.2 ng/ml; P=0.04; P<0.001, respectively). There was no difference between the sIL-6R levels in the patients with CR and the healthy controls. In non-responders sIL-6R concentration was the highest and similar to its level in the untreated patients. OSM level was higher in the untreated patients (median 1.8 pg/ml) than in the normal controls (median 0.0 pg/ml; P<0.001) and in the CR patients (median 0.0 pg/ml; P<0.03). The serum concentration of sgp130 was similar in the untreated (median 480 pg/ml) and treated (median 470 pg/ml) patients, as well as in the healthy persons (median 420 pg/ml; P>0.05). We have found significant positive correlation between the levels of sIL6R and the lymphocytes count in CLL patients (Ρ=0.423; P<0.001). In addition, sIL-6R and OSM serum concentrations correlated also with CLL Rai stage. In conclusion, the serum level of IL-6, OSM and sIL-6R, but not LIF and sgp130, are useful indicators of CLL activity.


Author(s):  
Т.Н. Жевак ◽  
Н.П. Чеснокова ◽  
Т.В. Шелехова ◽  
О.Е. Царева ◽  
И.А. Будник ◽  
...  

Цель. Изучить закономерности изменения экспрессии интерлейкина-10 и интерлейкина-24, обладающих иммуномодулирующим эффектом, при развитии B-клеточного хронического лимфолейкоза. С учетом этого выявить информативные прогностические критерии развития гемобластоза и/или нового подхода к терапии заболевания. Методы. У 120 больных с разными стадиями В-клеточного хронического лимфолейкоза методом твердофазного иммуноферментного анализа исследована динамика уровней интерлейкина-10 и интерлейкина-24 в сыворотке крови. Результаты. Обнаружено закономерное повышение содержания интерлейкина-10 и интерлейкина-24 в сыворотке крови пациентов уже на начальной стадии B-клеточного хронического лимфолейкоза и сохранение их достоверно высоких уровней на последующих стадиях заболевания. Заключение. Обнаруженный нами факт повышения содержания интерлейкина-10 в сыворотке крови пациентов с В-клеточным хроническим лимфолейкозом является фактором риска снижения противоопухолевой защиты организма вследствие подавления им механизмов клеточного иммунитета и способности ингибировать апоптоз малигнизированных клеток. Напротив, повышение экспрессии интерлейкина-24, обладающего проапоптотической активностью и стимулирующего дифференцировку клеток, может способствовать повышению эффективности механизмов противоопухолевой резистентности организма. Устранение дисбаланса продукции и/или содержания указанных цитокинов в сыворотке крови может создать условия повышения эффективности терапии пациентов с В-клеточным хроническим лимфолейкозом. Aim. To study serum levels of immunosuppressive cytokines (interleukin (IL)-10 and IL-24) in patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia for assessment of the disease progression and elaboration of a new treatment strategy. Methods. 120 patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia were enrolled in the study and divided into four groups according to the disease stage (Rai stage I-IV). Control group included 30 healthy volunteers. Concentrations of IL-10 and IL-24 were measured in serum using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results. Serum levels of IL-10 and IL-24 levels were significantly increased in all patient groups compared to the control. No difference in the cytokines levels between the patient groups was observed. Conclusion. In patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia, the increased serum level of IL-10 might impair the antitumor defence by inhibiting the cell immune response and preventing apoptosis of malignant lymphocytes. On the other hand, the increased serum level of IL-24 might oppose these effects by promoting cellular differentiation and inducing apoptosis in malignant cells. Therefore, correction of IL-10/IL-24 imbalance may be a beneficial therapeutic strategy for patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.


Blood ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
pp. 142-149 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Dadmarz ◽  
SN Rabinowe ◽  
SA Cannistra ◽  
JW Andersen ◽  
AS Freedman ◽  
...  

Abstract Chronic lymphocytic leukemia of B-cell origin (B-CLL) is a disease with a variable clinical course, despite the fact that the neoplastic cells in this disorder are homogeneous with respect to morphology, immunophenotype, and cell cycle stage. To further investigate the heterogeneity observed in the clinical behavior of B-CLL, we determined the phenotype and growth requirements of clonogenic cells from 28 patients with B-CLL from low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups as defined by the Rai staging system. Using methyl-cellulose as a semi- solid media with feeder cells and/or growth factors, colonies were observed with one or more of the culture conditions tested in 25 of 28 CLLs. Phenotypic analysis of colonies demonstrated that the clonogenic cells uniformly expressed la, CD19, CD20, CD5, and the identical light chain as the original CLL cell cultured. However, heterogeneity was observed in clonogenic B-CLL cell growth among the three different CLL risk groups. Clonogenic cells from patients with low-risk CLL required either irradiated unstimulated T cells, with or without conditioned media (CM) or irradiated activated T cells alone for colony formation. Both the number of colonies (227 +/- 15) as well as the number of cells per colony (220 +/- 82) were large, with a mean cloning efficiency of 0.39%. In contrast, clonogenic cells from patients with intermediate- and high-risk CLL required the combination of both irradiated activated T cells and CM. As compared with the low-risk CLLs, both the number and size of the colonies formed by the intermediate- (74 +/- 17, 70 +/- 39) and high- (83 +/- 28, 40 +/- 14) risk groups were significantly lower (P less than .0001). Similarly, the mean cloning efficiency was significantly reduced to 0.15% and 0.14%, respectively. None of the recombinant cytokines (interleukin 1 [IL-1] to IL-7, tumor necrosis factor, alpha and gamma-interferon, B-cell growth factor, and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor) alone or in combination with each other could entirely replace the stimulatory effect of the activated T cells. These data suggest that clinical progression of B-CLL is associated with a loss of clonogenic potential in the circulating pool of neoplastic cells, which require as yet undefined factors provided by activated T cells and CM.


Blood ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 110 (9) ◽  
pp. 3316-3325 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Bürkle ◽  
Matthias Niedermeier ◽  
Annette Schmitt-Gräff ◽  
William G. Wierda ◽  
Michael J. Keating ◽  
...  

Abstract CXCL13 is a homeostatic chemokine for lymphocyte homing and positioning within follicles of secondary lymphoid tissues, acting through its cognate receptor, CXCR5. Moreover, the CXCR5-CXCL13 axis plays a unique role in trafficking and homing of B1 cells. Here, we report that chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) B cells express high levels of functional CXCR5. CXCR5 expression levels were similar on CLL B cells and normal CD5+ B cells, and higher compared with normal CD5− B cells, follicular B-helper T cells (TFH cells), or neoplastic B cells from other B-cell neoplasias. Stimulation of CLL cells with CXCL13 induces actin polymerization, CXCR5 endocytosis, chemotaxis, and prolonged activation of p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinases. Anti-CXCR5 antibodies, pertussis toxin, and wortmannin inhibited chemotaxis to CXCL13, demonstrating the importance of Gi proteins and PI3 kinases for CXCR5 signaling. Moreover, CLL patients had significantly higher CXCL13 serum levels than volunteers, and CXCL13 levels correlated with β2 microglobulin. We detected CXCL13 mRNA expression by nurselike cells, and high levels of CXCL13 protein in supernatants of CLL nurselike cell cultures. By immunohistochemistry, we detected CXCL13+ expression by CD68+ macrophages in situ within CLL lymph nodes. These data suggest that CXCR5 plays a role in CLL cell positioning and cognate interactions between CLL and CXCL13-secreting CD68+ accessory cells in lymphoid tissues.


Blood ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 106 (11) ◽  
pp. 4986-4986
Author(s):  
Stefano Molica ◽  
Rosanna Mirabelli ◽  
Demetrio Misuraca ◽  
Caterina Battaglia

Abstract HCV-associated B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas (NHL) show distinctive clinico-pathological features such as older age, liver damage, presence of monoclonal gammopathy, increased incidence of autoimmune disorders, extranodal localizations and restricted histological subtypes. As far as B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is concerned, information dealing with either characteristics or outcome of HCV-associated CLL are limited. With this background we compared clinico-hematological features and outcome of 34 HCV-positive patients diagnosed at our institution as having immunologically typical B-cell CLL (i.e., CD5+/CD23+/CD79b-/SmIg dim) with 161 unselected CLL HCV-negative patients followed-up in the last 10 years. The two groups were alike with respect to main clinico-hematological features such as age (P=0.780), sex (P=0.650), absolute lymphocyte count (P=0.788), platelet count (P=0.362), haemoglobin level (P=0.704), β2-microglobulin (P=0.192), Binet stage distribution (P=0.224) and lymphocyte doubling time (LDT)(P= 0.620). As expected either ALT or AST serum levels at the time of CLL diagnosis were significantly higher in HCV-positive patients in comparison to HCV-negative ones (P&lt;0.0001 for both). In contrast, no difference was found in the incidence of monoclonal gammopathy between HCV-positive and HCV-negative patients (10.3% versus 7.7%; P=0.708). The same applied for autoimmune disorders which were homogeneously distributed in the two subgroups (P=0.711) and accounted, more frequently, for autoimmune emolytic anemia (AEA)(HCV-negative subgroup, 5.5%; HCV-positive subgroup, 9.0%). The proportion of severe infections registered did not reflect the HCV-status (HCV-negative subgroup, 9.6%; HCV-positive subgroup 6.4%; P= 0.510). Also second tumours were equally distributed among HCV-positive and HCV-negative subgroups (10% versus 6.8%; P=0.655). Survival curves projected at 10 years did not show any statistical in terms overall survival (Hazard Risk, 0.690; 95% CI: 0.216–1.304; P=0.167). Finally, the short term hepatic toxicity of chemotherapy did not increase among HCV-positive patients (P=0.671). In conclusion, HCV-positive patients with B-cell CLL do not differ from other patients both for presentation and clinical outcome. The need to activate specific protocols of antiviral therapy appears less urgent in comparison to NHL, however, younger CLL patients HCV-positive who are eligible for therapies at higher immunosuppressive potential (i.e., chemo-immunotherapy) should be taken in special consideration.


Blood ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 110 (11) ◽  
pp. 2035-2035 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanni Del Poeta ◽  
Maria Ilaria Del Principe ◽  
Luca Maurillo ◽  
Francesco Buccisano ◽  
Gianfranco Catalano ◽  
...  

Abstract Monoclonal antibodies in combination with chemotherapy allowed us to obtain more responses and longer response duration in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL), reducing disease burden to levels detectable only by flow cytometry. Moreover, it has been reported that low-dose rituximab decreases CD20 antigen loss via shaving and promotes enhanced targeting in CLL (Williams, 2006). We performed a phase II study that added rituximab to fludarabine (Flu) as therapy for symptomatic, untreated CLL. Remission status was assessed by a multiparametric flow cytometric method based on the detection of CD19+CD5+CD79b– residual B-CLL lymphocytes. VH mutational status, CD38, ZAP-70 and cytogenetics were obtained in all pts before treatment. We defined as “high risk” pts having at least two of the following markers: unmutated IgVH, CD38&gt;30%, ZAP-70&gt;20%, intermediate/unfavorable cytogenetics (trisomy 12 or del11q or del17p). Eighty-two CLL pts, median age 61 years, received six monthly courses of Flu (25 mg/m2 for 5 days) and four weekly doses of rituximab (375 mg/m2) starting after completion of Flu therapy. According to modified Rai stages, 8 pts had a low stage, 70 an intermediate stage and 4 a high stage. Based on NCI criteria, 66/82 (80%) pts achieved a complete remission (CR), 12/82 (15%) a partial remission (PR) and 4/82 (5%) no response or progression. Hematologic toxicity included mainly neutropenia (grade 3 and/or 4 in 42 pts) and thrombocytopenia (grade 3 and/or 4 in 4 pts). Thirty-five pts in clinical CR or PR, either with CD5+CD19+CD79b– bone marrow (BM) cells &gt;1% (MRD+, n=20 pts) or MRD negative but presenting CD5+CD19+ peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) &gt;1000/microl (n=15 pts) within 1 year after completion of the induction treatment, underwent consolidation/maintenance therapy with four monthly cycles of rituximab at 375 mg/m2 followed by twelve monthly doses of rituximab at 150 mg/m2. The median follow-up duration was 46 months. Noteworthy, all B-CLL pts experienced a long progression-free survival (PFS) from the end of induction treatment (68% at 5 years). Nevertheless, CLL pts that underwent consolidation and maintenance therapy (n=35) showed a significant longer response duration (85% at 5 years, Figure). On the other hand, BM and PBL persistently MRD negative (&gt;1 year) pts (n=29) showed a response duration similar to that of the consolidated pts (87% at 5 years). A significant shorter PFS was observed within CD38+ pts (39% vs 78% at 5 years, P=0.002), unmutated pts (45% vs 94% at 2.5 years, P=0.001) and ZAP-70+ pts (36% vs 88% at 6 years; P=0.00002). Notably, within the “high risk” subset (n=30), considering only MRD+ pts in CR or PR (n=20), MRD+ consolidated pts (n=11) showed a significant longer response duration (64% vs 13% at 2 years, P=0.006) in comparison with MRD+ unconsolidated pts (n=9). In conclusion, consolidation/maintenance therapy with rituximab prolongs significantly the response duration in B-CLL, improving also the outcome of the “high risk” subset. Figure Figure


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