Cytokine expression of T cells in chronic myeloid leukemia

Objective To evaluate the function of T cells in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Methods Interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-3 (IL-3), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha ( TNFα), and granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) gene expressions were investigated by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction ( RT-PCR ) assay in fluorescence active cell sorter (FACS) sorted peripheral blood CD2 +/CD56-T cells from 12 CML patients, 10 meylodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients and 7 normal individuals. Results TNFα mRNA was transcribed in T cells from all of the CML, MDS and normal individuals. IL-1β mRNA was transcribed in T cells from 10 CML, 9 MDS and 6 normal individuals. Low levels of IL-2 and IL-4 mRNA were detected in 5 CML patients. IL-3, IL-6 and GM-CSF mRNA were undetectable in all samples. Conclusion IL-4 and IL-2 were expressed abnormally in T cells of CML.