Open Access

Intracellular IL‑4 and IFN‑γ expression in iNKT cells from patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia

  • Authors:
    • Agnieszka Bojarska‑Junak
    • Małgorzata Waldowska
    • Justyna Woś
    • Sylwia Chocholska
    • Iwona Hus
    • Waldemar Tomczak
    • Michał Dzik
    • Marek Hus
    • Jacek Roliński
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: November 24, 2017     https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2017.7484
  • Pages: 1580-1590
  • Copyright: © Bojarska‑Junak et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

Metrics: Total Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )


Abstract

Malignant B cells in chronic lymphocytic leukemia serve an essential role in the whole immune response, so their interactions with other immune cells are more complex than observed in solid tumors. The latest study results indicate that the immune dysregulation in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) also affects a small population of invariant natural killer T cells (iNKT). Using peripheral blood iNKT cells obtained from patients with CLL, the objective of the present study was to assess the intracellular expression of typical cytokines involved in the Th1 (IFN‑γ) and Th2 (IL‑4) response pathways following stimulation with the iNKT‑specific ligand α‑galactosylceramide. iNKT cells from patients with CLL exhibited upregulated IL‑4 and IFN‑γ expression in comparison to those from HVs. No significant association between the ability of iNKT cells to produce IL‑4 or IFN‑γ and the expression of CD1d on leukemic B lymphocytes or monocytes was identified. However, the function of iNKT cells was compromised in patients with CLL by a strong Th2 bias (high IL‑4 and low IFN‑γ expression). The ratio of iNKT+IFN‑γ+:iNKT+IL‑4+ was significantly decreased in the CLL group when compared with HVs, and this decreased further as the disease progressed. This change may result in the promotion of leukemic B lymphocyte survival. Therefore, in the pathogenesis of CLL, Th2 bias may delay the antitumor response that relies on stimulation of the Th1 immune response.
View Figures
View References

Related Articles

Journal Cover

February-2018
Volume 15 Issue 2

Print ISSN: 1792-1074
Online ISSN:1792-1082

Sign up for eToc alerts

Recommend to Library

Copy and paste a formatted citation
x
Spandidos Publications style
Bojarska‑Junak A, Waldowska M, Woś J, Chocholska S, Hus I, Tomczak W, Dzik M, Hus M and Roliński J: Intracellular IL‑4 and IFN‑γ expression in iNKT cells from patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Oncol Lett 15: 1580-1590, 2018
APA
Bojarska‑Junak, A., Waldowska, M., Woś, J., Chocholska, S., Hus, I., Tomczak, W. ... Roliński, J. (2018). Intracellular IL‑4 and IFN‑γ expression in iNKT cells from patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Oncology Letters, 15, 1580-1590. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2017.7484
MLA
Bojarska‑Junak, A., Waldowska, M., Woś, J., Chocholska, S., Hus, I., Tomczak, W., Dzik, M., Hus, M., Roliński, J."Intracellular IL‑4 and IFN‑γ expression in iNKT cells from patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia". Oncology Letters 15.2 (2018): 1580-1590.
Chicago
Bojarska‑Junak, A., Waldowska, M., Woś, J., Chocholska, S., Hus, I., Tomczak, W., Dzik, M., Hus, M., Roliński, J."Intracellular IL‑4 and IFN‑γ expression in iNKT cells from patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia". Oncology Letters 15, no. 2 (2018): 1580-1590. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2017.7484