Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences
DOI
10.3906/sag-1409-57
Abstract
Background/aim: Recent studies have shown that IL-17-producing CD4+ T helper (Th17) cells play an important role in proinflammatory processes. In this report we analyzed IL-17, IL-21, and TGF-β serum levels in the peripheral blood of Iranian beta-thalassemia major patients that clinically exhibited splenectomy and iron overload. Materials and methods: Blood samples were collected from 43 beta-thalassemia patients and 43 healthy individuals with no history of malignancies or autoimmune disorders. Then serum levels of IL-17, IL-21, and TGF-β were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: The levels of IL-17 (P = 0.005) and TGF-β (P < 0.001) were significantly higher in the thalassemia patients compared to the healthy control. No significant differences in the level of serum IL-21 was observed between the patients and controls. There were no significant differences in serum levels of IL-17, IL-21, and TGF-β between patients with high or low serum levels of ferritin. Conclusion: Multiple blood transfusions cause constant immune stimulation, as a result of repeated exposure to new alloantigens. This might have significant effects on the stimulation of cytokine producing cells in those patients and cytokine profile can be used as a related marker for assessing disease severity and consequently therapeutic intervention.
Keywords
Beta-thalassemia, interleukin-17, interleukin-21, transforming growth factor beta
First Page
749
Last Page
755
Recommended Citation
BAHARLOU, RASOUL; DAVAMI, MOHAMMAD HASSAN; AHMADI-VASMEHJANI, ABBAS; and EBRAHIMI, MORTEZA
(2016)
"Increased IL-17 and TGF-ß serum levels in peripheral blood of patients with ß-thalassemia major: implication for continual transfusions role in T helper 17-mediated proinflammatory responses,"
Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences: Vol. 46:
No.
3, Article 24.
https://doi.org/10.3906/sag-1409-57
Available at:
https://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/medical/vol46/iss3/24
