Relationship between the serum levels of cytokines and acute graft-versus-host disease

Objective:To explore the relationship between the serum levels of cytokines and acute graft-versus-host disease(aGVHD) in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.Methods:The serum levels of interleukin-1(IL-1),interleukin-2(IL-2),interleukin-4(IL-4),and tumor necrosis factor(TNF) of 59 patients were determined by radioimmunoassay at consecutive time points.The relationship between the serum levels of cytokines and aGVHD were analyzed.Results:The serum levels of IL-1 and IL-2 were both increased in all 59 patients after transplantation of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cells.They were significantly higher in patients who developed grade Ⅱ to Ⅳ aGVHD than those in patients who developed grade 0 to Ⅰ aGVHD(both P0.01).The level of IL-4 in patients with grade Ⅱ to Ⅳ aGVHD had no significant difference at different time points,but it was significantly increased in patients with grade 0 to I aGVHD compared with that in patients with grade Ⅱ to Ⅳ aGVHD(P0.05).The level of TNF in patients with grade 0 to Ⅰ aGVHD was not significantly different at different time points,whereas it was increased in patients with Ⅱ to Ⅳ aGVHD on d 21 which was significantly higher than patients with grade 0 to Ⅰ aGVHD(P0.01).The changes in the serum levels of cytokines preceded the occurrence of aGVHD after stem cells transplantation(median time: 14 d to 21 d vs 28 d).Conclusion:The serum levels of cytokines closely correlated with the occurrence and severity of aGVHD and may be helpful for the prediction,diagnosis and monitoring of aGVHD.