Serum cytokine levels and acute graft-versus-host disease after HLA-identical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate whether the serum levels of soluble interleukin-2R (sIL-2R), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), IL-6, IL-10, and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) were associated with the development of acute graft-vs-host disease (aGVHD). Patients and methods Serum cytokine levels were sequentially measured by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 13 patients who had received full-match allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Results Serum sIL-2R and IL-10 levels from the 1st to the 15th week post transplantation were significantly higher in the group that developed aGVHD than in the group without aGVHD. sIL-2R levels increased in direct correlation to engraftment and at onset of aGVHD, whereas IL-10 levels increased transiently following HSCT. The mean TNF-α concentration in the first weeks after transplantation was augmented in the group that developed aGVHD. Furthermore, a decrease in TGF-β1 levels after engraftment was significantly associated with aGVHD. No correlation was found between aGVHD and the other cytokines. Conclusions These results support the idea that a balance between cytokines derived from type 1 and type 2 T-helper cells may be important in the development and control of aGVHD. Although sIL-2R, TNF-α, IL-10, and TGF-β1 levels have been correlated with aGVHD, sIL-2R levels at engraftment may provide a better parameter for early detection of aGVHD after allogeneic HSCT.