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Serum levels of interleukin-16 in lymphoid malignancies

Interleukin-16 (IL-16), also named lymphocytic chemoattractant factor, is produced mainly by CD8þ peripheral blood lymphocytes but also by CD4þ T cells, eosinophils, mast cells, and bronchial epithelial cells after stimulation. IL-16 induces chemotaxis of CD4þ T cells, monocytes, and eosinophils [1]. The cytokine contributes in fact to the regulatory process of CD4þ cell recruitment and activation at sites of inflammation [2]. In addition, it stimulates the production of cytokines such as IL-6, TNF-alpha, IL-1, and IL-15 by monocytes, playing an essential role in initiating the inflammatory response [3]. It was recently reported that B-lymphocytes too express IL-16 mRNA and synthetize protein [4], and that the levels of IL-16 can be modified in lymphoid neoplastic diseases. Previous studies reported that serum IL-16 levels were higher in untreated multiple myeloma (MM) patients as compared with normal controls and that there was a strong correlation between the serum IL-16 level and disease activity [5]. Moreover, it has recently been reported that IL16 mRNA was detected in all of 18 mycosis fungoides (MF) lesions investigated by an in situ hybridization technique, suggesting that IL-16 might be involved in skin homing in MF [6]. In our study, we investigated the levels of IL-16 in sera of patients affected by haematologic malignancies and correlated them with known prognostic factors to provide preliminary insights on the biological relevance of this cytokine in selected haematologic malignancies. Sixty-four previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/ SLL) patients were included in this study. Their median age was 65 years (range 43 – 87) and the male/female ratio was 35:29. Routine laboratory studies consisted of complete blood count with differential, platelet count, and blood chemistry including beta-2microglobulin (b2m) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), as well as immunonophenotyping. Physical examination, chest X-ray, and abdominal ultrasound were performed in all instances. In this group of patients a bone marrow biopsy allowed us to select 52 patients with B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) that were clinically staged according to the Rai system and distributed as follows: Stage 0, 14; Stages I – II, 28; and Stages III – IV, 10. Four previously untreated patients with mantle cell lymphoma and five with follicular lymphoma were also studied. Their median age was 64 years (range 47 – 79). Diagnosis was made by routine histological and immunohistochemical examination. The study population included 19 newly diagnosed patients with MM with a median age of 62 years (range 37 – 78 years). According to the DurieSalmon staging system, three patients had MM disease stage I, nine patients had stage II, and seven patients had disease stage III. The paraprotein class was immunoglobulin IgG in 12 patients and IgA in 7 patients. Serum samples were collected from patients and from 20 ageand sex-matched normal controls and were aliquoted into separate vials and stored at 7708C until use. Informed consent was obtained from all individuals participating in the study. The