Levels of interleukins 12 (IL-12) and 13 (IL-13), hepatitis B and C serology, and blood cultures among acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients in Egypt

• Published in: Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins including Tropical Diseases
• Main Authors: Nour el deen RAA, Harfoush RA, Elgharabawy MM, Hamed NA, Morsi MG
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: SciELO 2011
• Subjects: acute myeloid leukemia; IL-12; IL-13; HBsAg; HCV; ELISA; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Toxicology. Poisons; RA1190-1270; Zoology; QL1-991; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/S1678-91992011000300009; https://doaj.org/article/d67a2bd14cd049afa23c8c9e243ac5b5

There is an interest in the use of IL-12 as a possible anti-cancer drug to induce immune responses and anti-IL-13 formulations to treat the undesirable effects of IL-13. Thus, the present study aimed at analyzing IL-12 and IL-13 profiles, viral hepatitis serology and blood cultures in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients. Forty individuals (20 without septicemia - Group A, and 20 with septicemia - Group B) and 20 healthy controls were evaluated. Hepatitis B virus antigens (HBsAg) and hepatitis C virus antibodies (HCV Ab) were quantified using commercial ELISA kits. IL-12 and IL-13 levels were estimated in culture supernatant of mitogen-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells by ELISA. Significantly low IL-12 values were observed among AML patients compared to controls whereas the opposite was observed regarding IL-13. IL-12 levels were found to be elevated in the follow-up cases. M4 and M5 subtypes of AML presented higher IL-12 levels than M1 and M2 subtypes. The isolated organisms from AML with septicemia were Staphylococcus aureus (35%), Esherichia coli (25%), coagulase-negative staphylococci (25%), and Candida (15%). Fungemia cases showed higher IL-12 values than bacteremia cases. In conclusion, IL-12 and IL-13 should be further tested in large-scale studies to provide future immunotherapy against AML.