Increased prevalence of autoimmune phenomena in myelofibrosis: relationship with clinical and morphological characteristics, and with immunoregulatory cytokine patterns

Leuk Res. 2013 Nov;37(11):1509-15. doi: 10.1016/j.leukres.2013.09.001. Epub 2013 Sep 12.

Abstract

Autoimmune phenomena and cytokines were investigated in 100 patients with myelofibrosis (MF) and related to marrow fibrosis and clinical risk. Anti-erythrocyte antibodies by mitogen-stimulated direct antiglobulin test (MS-DAT) were positive in 45%, anti-platelets in 15% and organ/non organ-specific in 57% of cases, without clinically overt disease, and mostly in low-risk/intermediate-risk-1 and MF-0/MF-1. TGF-β and IL-8 were increased in MS-DAT positive cases, and IFN-γ in patients with serological autoantibodies. TGF-β and IL-17 were elevated in early clinical and morphological stages, while IL-8 increased in advanced stages. These data suggest that autoimmune phenomena and cytokine disregulation are particularly relevant in early MF.

Keywords: Autoimmunity; Cytokines; Myelofibrosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / immunology*
  • Autoimmunity / immunology*
  • Coombs Test
  • Cytokines / metabolism*
  • Erythrocytes / immunology*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-17 / metabolism
  • Interleukin-8 / metabolism
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prevalence
  • Primary Myelofibrosis / epidemiology
  • Primary Myelofibrosis / immunology*
  • Primary Myelofibrosis / metabolism
  • Prognosis
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / metabolism

Substances

  • Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic
  • Cytokines
  • Interleukin-17
  • Interleukin-8
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta