Immune Netw.  2014 Jun;14(3):156-163. 10.4110/in.2014.14.3.156.

Reduced Interleukin-17 and Transforming Growth Factor Beta Levels in Peripheral Blood as Indicators for Following the Course of Bladder Cancer

• Baharlou R
• Vasmehjani AA
• Dehghani A
• Ghobadifar MA
• Khoubyari

• KMID: 2168027
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4110/in.2014.14.3.156

Abstract

Interleukin (IL) 17 is produced by T-helper (Th) 17 with a vigorous effect on cells of the immune system playing important roles in pathogenesis of immune-mediated diseases, including autoimmune disorders and cancers. Therefore, the aim of current study was to determine the serum levels of IL-6, IL-17, and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) in Iranian bladder cancer patients, and to correlate them with disease status. Blood samples were collected from 40 bladder cancer patients and 38 healthy individuals with no history of malignancies or autoimmune disorders. The serum levels of IL-6, IL-17, and TGF-beta were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results showed that the levels of IL-17 (p<0.0001) and TGF-beta (p<0.0001) were significantly lower in the patients compared to the controls. No significant differences in the level of serum IL-6 (p=0.16) was observed between the patients and controls. In addition, demographic characteristics between control and patients groups were not significantly different. As most of the cases studied in this investigation were in stage I and II, it is concluded that reduced Th17-related cytokines can be used as indicators for following the course and clinical stages of bladder carcinoma progress and immune response to cancer.

Keyword

Bladder cancer; Interleukin-6; Interleukin-17; Transforming growth factor beta

MeSH Terms

Cytokines
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Humans
Immune System
Interleukin-17*
Interleukin-6
Interleukins
Transforming Growth Factor beta*
Urinary Bladder
Urinary Bladder Neoplasms*
Cytokines
Interleukin-17
Interleukin-6
Interleukins
Transforming Growth Factor beta

Figure

• 

  Figure 1 Serum level of IL-6 in the peripheral blood of bladder cancer patients and blood of normal controls. Presented data were analyzed with the nonparametric two-tailed Mann-Whitney test and the horizontal lines are showing the Median of the groups. No Significant difference was found in the serum level of IL-6 among all patients, early-stage (I, II), low-grade and non-metastatic bladder cancer patients compared to healthy controls (p=0.16, 0.33, 0.28 and 0.5, respectively).

• 

  Figure 2 Serum level of TGF-β in the peripheral blood of bladder cancer patients and blood of normal controls. Presented data were analyzed with the nonparametric two-tailed Mann-Whitney test and the horizontal lines are showing the Median of the groups. Significant difference was found in the serum level of TGF-β in peripheral blood of all patients, early-stage (I, II), low-grade and non-metastatic bladder cancer patients compared to healthy controls (p<0.0001, <0.0001, 0.002 and <0.0001, respectively).

• 

  Figure 3 Serum level of IL-17 in the peripheral blood of bladder cancer patients and blood of normal controls. Presented data were calculated same as explained in Figure 1 and 2 and the horizontal lines are showing the Median of the groups. Significant difference was found in the serum level of IL-17 in peripheral blood of all patients, early-stage (I, II), low-grade and non-metastatic bladder cancer patients compared to healthy controls (p<0.0001, <0.0001, <0.0001 and <0.0001, respectively).

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