Haematologica (Oct 2012)

Production of the effector cytokine interleukin-17, rather than interferon-γ, is more strongly associated with autoimmune hemolytic anemia

  • Andrew M. Hall,
  • Omar M. Zamzami,
  • Natasha Whibley,
  • Daniel P. Hampsey,
  • Anne M. Haggart,
  • Mark A. Vickers,
  • Robert N. Barker

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3324/haematol.2011.060822
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 97, no. 10

Abstract

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Background Interleukin-17A is the signature cytokine of the Th17 subset and drives inflammatory pathology, but its relevance to autoantibody-mediated diseases is unclear. Th1 cells secreting interferon-γ have been implicated in autoimmune hemolytic anemia, so the aim was to determine which cytokine is more closely associated with disease severity.Design and Methods Interferon-γ and interleukin-17A were measured in the sera of patients with autoimmune hemolytic anemia and healthy donors, and in peripheral blood mononuclear cell cultures stimulated with autologous red blood cells, or a panel of peptides spanning red blood cell autoantigen.Results Serum interleukin-17A, but not interferon-γ, was significantly raised in patients with autoimmune hemolytic anemia (P