Interleukin-17 and interleukin-27 in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients: interrelationship and correlation with leukocyte differential counts

Objectives Efforts to uncover factors affecting multiple myeloma (MM) prognosis are unremitting. Recently, white blood cells differential (WBCD) counts were reported to affect MMprognosis. Cytokines, including interleukin-17 (IL-17) and IL-27, are known to influence the bone marrow microenvironment. The interrelation between both cytokines in previous studies is conflicting and their correlations to WBCD have not been investigated in MM. Our aim was to study the relationship between IL-17 and IL-27 in newly diagnosed MM patients, and to investigate possible association with the newly introduced prognostic WBCD. Materials and methods Patients were classified according to the International Staging System (ISS). Plasma levels of IL- 17 and IL-27 were assessed using the solid-phase sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results IL-17 and IL-27 median values showed no significant difference between patients and healthy controls, and a significant positive correlation between both cytokines was observed (P=0.001). IL-17 was significantly higher in International Staging System stage III and morphologically group II patients. IL-17 was significantly correlated with various prognostic parameters. However, on using multivariate analysis, monoclonal immunoglobulin concentration and absolute lymphocyte count/absolute monocyte count ratio continued to be correlated with IL-17 (P=0.007; 0.009, respectively). IL-27 was positively correlated with monoclonal immunoglobulin (P=0.001), negatively correlated with absolute lymphocyte count (P 0.001), and its higher levels were associated with circulating plasma cells. Conclusion IL-17 and IL-27 were positively correlated and variably linked to prognostic markers of MM. Their relation to WBCD introduces an area of investigation as to assess its potential use in newer modalities of treatment.