The Role of Interleukin-1 Inhibitors on Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia Blast Proliferation; Future Potential for Biotherapy

The effect of interleukin-1 (IL-1) as an autocrine growth factor on the proliferation of the acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) blasts was studied. Bone marrow specimens were obtained from nine patients with different subgroups of AML. IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA) and IL-1 ß neutralizing antibody (IL-1ß NA) alone or in combination were added to the culture mediums of the AML blast cultures for the detection of their inhibitory effect on AML blast cell proliferation and colony formation. Average colony numbers in the IL-RA, IL-ßNA, and IL-IRA plus IL-IßNA included culture flasks, were 63.7 ± 21.5 %, 69.5 ± 19 %, 53.4 ± 23.7 %, respectively, as compared to those of the control (p < 0.01). Inhibition of colony formation by IL-IRA plus IL-IßNA was more prominent than by IL-IßNA alone (p < 0.01). No correlation between the inhibition of AML blast colony ormation and FAB AML subgroups was seen. RESULT: Both IL-1RA or IL-IßNA or in combination induced varying degrees of inhibition on blast colony formation. IL-I inhibitory molecules could be considered as an alternative therapy for AML in patients whose blast cells are sensitive to IL-1 inhibition.