Autoimmune phenomena and cytokines were investigated in 100 patients with myelofibrosis (MF) and related to marrow fibrosis and clinical risk. Anti-erythrocyte antibodies by mitogen-stimulated direct antiglobulin test (MS-DAT) were positive in 45%, anti-platelets in 15% and organ/non organ-specific in 57% of cases, without clinically overt disease, and mostly in low-risk/intermediate-risk-1 and MF-0/MF-1. TGF-β and IL-8 were increased in MS-DAT positive cases, and IFN-γ in patients with serological autoantibodies. TGF-β and IL-17 were elevated in early clinical and morphological stages, while IL-8 increased in advanced stages. These data suggest that autoimmune phenomena and cytokine disregulation are particularly relevant in early MF.
Keywords: Autoimmunity; Cytokines; Myelofibrosis.
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