Role of T-helper 17 cells and interleukin-17 expression in patients with acute myeloid leukemia

Background: Several observations suggest that immunological events are important for antileukemic immune reactivity in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). T-helper type 17 (Th17) cells play an active role in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases; however, the nature of Th17 cells in hematological malignancies remains unknown.Aim: The aim of this work was to assess the role of Th17 cells and its related cytokine interleukin-17 (IL-17) in the pathogenesis and prognosis of AML.Participants and methods: The study was carried out on 40 adult AML patients and 20 age-matched and sex-matched controls. Patients were diagnosed and classified according to the WHO criteria for AML. Plasma levels of IL-17 in patients and controls were measured using the sandwich ELISA technique. Th17 cells were assessed using flow cytometry.Results: The percentage of Th17 cells and the concentration of IL-17 were significantly increased in untreated patients with AML compared with the healthy controls (10.2±2.2 vs. 4.38±0.16% and 20.15±2.9 vs. 8.2±1.3 pg/ml, respectively). In addition, the increased Th17 cells were reduced significantly when the patient achieved complete remission after chemotherapy, but the decrease was not significant in patients with incomplete remission.Conclusion: These results suggest that Th17 cells play a role in the pathogenesis and response of therapy in AML patients through the secretion of IL-17 cytokine.