Background: Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is a common type of leukaemia characterized by progressive accumulation of monoclonal B cells. The survival and proliferation of CLL cells are stimulated by T-helper cytokines and could be correlated with disease progression. The aim of this study is to assess the value of serum interleukin-22 in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and its relation to disease characteristics.
Methods: The study was carried out on 40 CLL patients (newly diagnosed) and 10 healthy controls. Routine hematological and laboratory investigations were performed for all subjects in addition to interleukin-22 (IL-22) level and ZAP-70 expression.
Results: Mean values of IL-22 level among CLL patients were significantly higher than in the control group. IL-22 mean values were significantly higher in patients with positive ZAP-70 expression. Moreover, there was a significant positive correlation between serum IL-22 level and ZAP-70. According to the ROC curve, the area under the curve was statistically significant (AUC=0.809 p=0.001).
Conclusion: IL-22 & ZAP-70 could act in alliance to maintain survival of CLL cells and its proliferation and could be used as diagnostic as well as prognostic markers. Our findings strongly recommend the incorporation of IL-22 level into routine CLL work up < /p>