Measurements of IL-6, soluble IL-6 receptor and soluble gp130 in sera of B-cell lymphoma patients. Does Viscum album treatment affect these parameters?

• Published in: Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy 2002-05, Vol.56 (3), p.152-158
• Main Authors: Kovacs, E, Kuehn, J.J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Antigens, CD - blood; Antigens, CD - metabolism; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic - administration & dosage; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic - therapeutic use; B-cell lymphoma; Biological and medical sciences; Cytokine Receptor gp130; Female; Humans; IL-6; Immunomodulators; Injections, Subcutaneous; Interleukin-6 - blood; Interleukin-6 - metabolism; Lymphoma, B-Cell - blood; Lymphoma, B-Cell - drug therapy; Male; Medical sciences; Membrane Glycoproteins - blood; Membrane Glycoproteins - metabolism; Middle Aged; Other treatments; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Plant Extracts - administration & dosage; Plant Extracts - therapeutic use; Plant Proteins - administration & dosage; Plant Proteins - therapeutic use; Receptors, Interleukin-6 - blood; Receptors, Interleukin-6 - metabolism; Remission Induction; sgp130; sIL-6R; Solubility; Treatment. General aspects; Tumors; Viscum album
• ISSN: 0753-3322; 1950-6007
• DOI: 10.1016/S0753-3322(02)00165-8

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) can be involved in several diseases including lymphoid malignancies. This cytokine binds to soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6R) circulating in blood, leading to signal transduction via gp130. Soluble IL-6R shows agonistic activity for IL-6, and the soluble form of gp130 (sgp130) an antagonistic effect against the complex IL-6/sIL-6R. Viscum album extract (Iscador R) as an immunomodulator is used in the treatment of malignant disorders. In this study we investigated the effect of this treatment on the serum levels of IL-6, sIL-6R and sgp130 in B-cell lymphoma patients ( n = 27), in comparison to healthy controls ( n = 28). Twenty-one of 27 patients had been treated previously with chemo/radiotherapy. The patients were divided into two groups; those with short-term (investigated before and during treatment) or those with long-term Viscum album (VA) therapy (investigated during therapy). The serum levels of the three parameters were determined by ELISA. In patients having short-term treatment IL-6 values were similar to those of controls. During long-term therapy the values were significantly lower ( P