Publication Date:
2004-11-16
Description:
Isolated chronic thrombocytopenia (CT) following allogeneic HCT is associated with an increased risk of transplant-related mortality and a reduction in long-term survival. Although the pathogenesis of CT is not entirely clear, it has been speculated that immune activation and cytokine dysregulation characteristic of chronic GVHD (CGVHD) play a similar role in the pathogenesis of this disorder. To better understand the impact of endogenous cytokine expression on platelets, we analyzed pro and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the serum of patients with CT following allogeneic HCT, comparing levels to healthy donors and to patients with normal platelet counts after allo-transplantation. Serum was obtained from 3 patient groups; Group 1- healthy donor controls (n=12): Group 2- post-transplant from allogeneic HCT patients with normal platelet counts (n=31): Group 3- post transplant from patients with CT (n=11). Using micro sphere-based Luminex flow cytometry, serum was analyzed for levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α as well as Th(1) cytokines IL1-b, IL-2, IL-12, IFN-g and Th(2) cytokines IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10. Results: Both post transplant cohorts (Group 2 and 3) had higher mean levels of GM-CSF (110 and 120 pg/ml), IFN-g (17 and 16 pg/ml), and IL-12 (318 and 202 pg/ml) compared to their respective non-transplant (Group-1) controls (GM-CSF 23 pg/ml: p
Print ISSN:
0006-4971
Electronic ISSN:
1528-0020
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
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