Effects of interferon-alpha-2a on Th3 cytokine response in multiple myeloma patients

• Published in: Tumori 2004-07, Vol.90 (4), p.387
• Main Authors: Sonmez, Mehmet, Sonmez, Bircan, Eren, Necmi, Yilmaz, Mustafa, Karti, S Sami, Ovali, Ercument
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use; Case-Control Studies; Cytokines - blood; Cytokines - drug effects; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; Humans; Interferon-alpha - therapeutic use; Interferon-gamma - blood; Interleukin-1 - blood; Interleukin-10 - blood; Interleukin-2 - blood; Interleukin-4 - blood; Male; Middle Aged; Multiple Myeloma - drug therapy; Multiple Myeloma - immunology; Recombinant Proteins; Th1 Cells - drug effects; Th1 Cells - immunology; Th2 Cells - drug effects; Th2 Cells - immunology; Transforming Growth Factor beta - blood; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0300-8916
• DOI: 10.1177/030089160409000404

Multiple myeloma cells increase Th3 cytokine response by secreting TGF-beta, which causes defective Th1 and Th2 cytokine responses. Therefore, a significant suppression of the immune system is seen in multiple myeloma. Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) is used in the treatment of multiple myeloma due to its immunomodulatory and anti-tumoral effects. We attempted to define the characteristics of immune cytokine responses and the effects of IFN-alpha-2a on the immune response in multiple myeloma. Fifteen patients with multiple myeloma and 15 healthy controls were enrolled. IFN-alpha-2a, 3 million units/day x 3 times/week, was administered subcutaneously to the patients for 2 weeks. Cytokines (TGF-beta, IL-1, IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, IFN-gamma) were assessed by the ELISA method in sera of the patients in pretreatment and posttreatment periods and in the sera of the controls. IL-2 and IL-4 levels in patients, before IFN-alpha-2a, were lower than the controls, whereas TGF-beta levels were higher than the controls. In other words, Th3 cytokine response was increased and Th1 and Th2 cytokine responses were decreased in patients. A short course of IFN-alpha-2a increased IL-2 levels. These findings suggest IFN-alpha-2a may enhance nonTh3 cytokine responses in multiple myeloma patients.