The effects of interleukin-3 (IL·3) and interleukin-6 (IL·6) on nonadherent mononuclear cells (NMC) from the peripheral blood of 28 patients with multiple myeloma (MM), 3 patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), and 3 normal controls were investigated. In 15 of 27 evaluable patients with MM, monoclonal-cytoplasmic-immunoglobulin (clg)-positive plasma cells appeared from the T-cell-depleted NMC after 10 days of culture in the presence of IL·3 and IL·6. These changes were not observed in the T cell fraction of myeloma blood or in the T-cell-depleted NMC obtained from cases of MGUS or from normal controls. The percentage of clg-positive plasmacytoid cells after 10 days of culture was significantly higher in the presence of both IL·3 and IL·6 than with each interleukin alone or the control medium. Furthermore, these changes were often observed in untreated patients. These findings suggest that myeloma precursor cells exist in the peripheral blood of MM patients, especially at diagnosis, and differentiate into clg-positive cells in the presence of IL·3 and IL·6. This assay may be useful in discriminating the early stage of myeloma from MGUS.

Keywords:
Cytokine, IL-3 IL-6, Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, Multiple myeloma, Precursor cell
This content is only available via PDF.
© 1992 S. Karger AG, Basel
1992
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.