Haematologica 2003 - Supplements

176
Pro-inflammatory and angiogenic cytokines in multiple
myeloma patients
Jurczyszyn A., Wolska-Smoleñ T., Zawirska D.,Fedak D.,
Naskalski J., Skotnicki A.B.
1. Chair and Department of Hematology, Jagiellonian University,
Cracow, Poland.2. Clinical Biochemistry Department, Jagiellonian
University, Cracow, Poland.
Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a major growth and survival factor for
myeloma cells and may also play a role in the development of the
bone disease. A soluble form of the IL-6R (sIL-6R) is unusual
amongst soluble cytokine receptors, because it retains biological
activity and acts as an agonist by binding IL-6, associating with
gp130 and allowing signal transduction.
Recent reports pointed that bone marrow angiogenesis is
increased in multiple myeloma patients. It prompted us to
examine plasma concentrations of several cytokines and to
elucidate if any their clinical significance.
We have measured the serum concentration of interleukin-6 (IL-
6), soluble receptor for IL-6 (sIL-6R), vascular endothelial
growth factor (VEGF), soluble vascular endothelial growth factor
receptor (KDR/sVEGF-R2), basic fibroblast growth factor (b-
FGF), tumor growth factor beta-1 (TGF-beta1) and hepatocyte
growth factor (HGF) in 76 patients with multiple myeloma (MM)
and 35 healthy subjects. The circulating serum levels of the
cytokines were measured by Quantikine kit (R&D Systems Inc.,
Minneapolis). Plasma were collected at diagnosis - 29 cases and
during treatment (from 1 month up to 8 years) - 23 cases with
good response to therapy and others with relapsed MM. All
samples were kept frozen at -20°C. Results are reported as
median values (range).
Examined groups
Multiple myeloma Control group
Measured
group
p
cytokines
n x ± SD (minmaxmax)
n x ± SD (min-
IL-6
13,65 ± 42,61 1,04 ± 1,12
65
35
0,006
(pg/ml)
(0 –251,13) (0–3,04)
sIL-6R
37,1 ± 14,2 25,3 ± 6,4
65
35
0,003
(ng/ml)
(15,7 – 78,3) (14,6–38,4)
VEGF
56,8 ± 46,7 49,9 ± 49,9
65
35
NS
(pg/ml)
(5 – 219)
(0 – 176,3)
s VEGF- 7518 ± 2119 8725±1281
65
35