Beta-thalassemia major: Plasma cytokine ( IL-3 , IL-7 ) concentrations regulating immune response and erythropoiesis

Abstract

Plasma levels of ILr3 and IL-7 were studied in 23 patients with homozygous beta-thalassemia in order to determine whether these cytokines involved in previously defined abnormalities in erythropoiesis and immune response for this dis¬ease. No significant difference was found in plasma IL-7 concentrations between thalassemic patients and healthy controls and it was suggested that IL-7 is not involved in cellular immunological alterations in beta-thalassemia. However, the number of thalassemic patients with detectable IL-3 concentrations was significantly higher. The data related with HbF and IL-3 showed a positive correlation and three of the patients had the highest levels of both IL-3 and HbF. It was conclud¬ed that IL-3 production has to be studied in detail in order to learn more about the involvement of this cytokine in erythro¬poiesis of thalassemic patients. Turk J Haematol 1997; 14:97-100.