[Study on the expression of interleukin-8 and its receptors in acute leukemia].

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the expression of interleukin 8 (IL-8) and its A, B type receptors (IL-8RA, IL-8RB) in acute leukemia (AL).

METHODS

Plasma IL-8 concentrations in peripheral blood and IL-8R expressions on bone marrow mononuclear cell (MNC) membrane of 77 newly diagnosed AL patients were assayed by ELISA and FACS, respectively. IL-8 concentration in cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) of 15 AL patients in complete remission (CR) were kinetically measured.

RESULTS

Plasma IL-8 levels in newly diagnosed AL patients were increased. IL-8 levels were higher in AML than in ALL, in AML-M4, M5 were higher than in AML-M1-M3, and in B-ALL were higher than in T-ALL, respectively (P < 0.05). In ALL, CR rate in patients with IL-8 > 100 ng/L was lower than in those with IL-8 < or = 100 ng/L (P < 0.05). 36.36% of the patients were MNC IL-8R positive. Peripheral blood WBC and blasts amounts in IL-8R(+) group were significantly higher than IL-8R (-) group (P < 0.05). CSF IL-8 levels in CR patients were not different from newly diagnosed patients (P > 0.05) and were increased while central nervous system leukemia (CNSL) developed.

CONCLUSION

Detection of IL-8 and IL-8R might help to identify AL types and predict prognosis and the development of CNSL.