Abstract

BackgroundIn this study, we investigated the role and expression of interleukin (IL)-17A and IL-22 in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. MethodsWe evaluated the expression of markers above on CLL by ELISA, qRT-PCR, flow cytometric analysis and nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis test. ResultsQuantitative RT-PCR revealed that the mRNA levels of IL-17A and IL-22 in PBMCs of CLL patients were upregulated compared with those from healthy subjects (meanSD: 1.96 +/- 0.232 vs.0.72 +/- 0.15, P<0.001 and mean +/- SD: 2.45 +/- 0.534 vs.0.81 +/- 0.26, P<0.001, respectivily). In addition, findings showed that the IL-17A and IL-22 plasma level was significantly elevated than that from healthy control group (P <0.001). The median IL-17A and IL-22 in CLL patients and healthy control group were 48.28 +/- 17.2 pgmL(-1); 20.01 +/- 11.16 pgmL(-1) and 58.68 +/- 23.4 pgmL(-1);16.47 +/- 10.31 P<0.001, respectively. The levels of IL-17A and IL-22 was not significantly associated with the different stages of disease (Rai stages; Kruskal-Wallis test P>0.05).No significant relationship was found between expression of CD38 and higher median serum levels of IL-17A in patients, but patients with negative expression of ZAP-70 showed a significant association with higher median serum levels of IL-17A compared with healthy subjects. (57.84 pgmL(-1) vs. 31.67 pgmL(-1); P=0.016). ConclusionIL-22 is elevated and associated with CD38 and Zap-70 expression in patients with CLL. No significant correlation was found between expression of CD38 and increased levels of IL-17A, negative expression of ZAP-70 showed a significant association with increased levels of IL-17A. (c) 2016 International Clinical Cytometry Society