Cytokine modulation of interleukin 1 and tumour necrosis factor-alpha secretion from acute myelogenous leukaemia blast cells in vitro.

Spontaneous secretion of interleukin 1 (IL-1) alpha, IL-1 beta and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) from acute myelogenous leukaemia (AML) blasts showed significant correlation, and detectable levels of all cytokines were seen for a majority of patients. IL-3 and granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor increased secretion of IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha for a majority of AML patients, whereas IL-4 decreased cytokine secretion. The effect of IL-6 and stem cell factor on cytokine secretion varied between different patients. A wide variation in IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha secretion between different patients was seen both for spontaneous secretion and in the presence of all cytokines.