Objective: To evaluate the clinical significance of expression of interleukin-(IL-8) and its type A receptor(IL-8RA) in acute promyelocytic leukemia(APL) patients under all trans-retinoic acid(ATRA) induction.
Methods: Serum IL-8 level of 18 APL patients were dynamically studied(ELISA). Fresh APL cells from 3 patients were cultured with ATRA(10(-6) mmol/L). Supernatant IL-8 level and IL-8RA expression on APL cells were measured by FACS.
Results: In vitro, IL-8 concentrations decreased 72 hours after incubation, while IL-8RA increased. In vivo, IL-8 increased more rapidly and markedly than temperature and WBC counts did before retinoic acid syndrome(RA-S) occurred. Serum IL-6 and IL-8 levels significantly increased when the patients suffered infection, and IL-8 increased even before fever. Both IL-8 and D-dimer increased while DIC progressed.
Conclusion: ATRA inhibited IL-8 secretion of APL cells while increased the expression of IL-8RA. Monitoring serum IL-8 concentrations could predict the development of RA-S and infection. Increase of both IL-8 and D-dimer concentrations suggested DIC progression.