Analysis of cytokines level in patients with Epstein-Barr virus-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis / 白血病·淋巴瘤

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the level change of cytokines in patients with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (EBV-HLH).Methods:A retrospective case control study was conducted. The clinical data of 65 patients with EBV-HLH, 30 patients with infectious mononucleosis (IM) (IM group) and 40 patients with non-EBV infection-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (non-EBV-HLH group) who admitted to Tongji Hospital,Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology from February 2022 to February 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the expression levels of the interleukin (IL)-6, IL-2, IL-10, IL-8, IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interferon γ (IFN-γ) in serum samples of patients in the above 3 groups. The cytokines levels in EBV-HLH group were compared with those in IM group and non-EBV-HLH group, respectively.Results:The cytokines levels of IL-6, IL-2, IL-10, IL-8, IL-1β, TNF-α and IFN-γ in EBV-HLH group were higher than those in the non-EBV-HLH group, and the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). The cytokines levels of IL-2, IL-10 and IFN-γ in EBV-HLH group were higher than those in IM group, and the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). Conclusions:The cytokines levels of IL-6, IL-2, IL-10, IL-8, IL-1β, TNF-α, IFN-γ are increased in EBV-HLH patients, which may play an important role in the development and progression of EBV-HLH.