Evaluation of Interleukin – 33 level in Iraqi children with Beta-thalassemia major

Abstract

Background: Thalassemia and a bnormal hemoglobin are the most common genetic disorders and are considered health Prpblems in many developing countries. Beta-Thalassemia major is the most familiar type, in which the beta-globin chain synthesis is impaired.

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate a new recent  member of the IL-1 super family of cytokines interleukin-33(IL-33) levels in serum that has a crucial rolein signaling cellular damage and infection diseases and in order to evaluate its utility as a clinical biochemical parameter in Beta-Thalassemia Major disease.

Methods: The present study was conducted on 40 subjects which divided in to 2 groups. First group includes 20 healthy individuals as control group . Second group includes 20 children with Beta-Thalassemia Major as patient group . All subjects attending Ibn-Al-Baladi hospital, and were (8-14) years old. Parameters measured in the sera of patient and healthy groups were interleukin-33 (IL-33), Iron and immunoglobulins (IgG,IgM,IgA) concentration, while (Hb) and fetus hemoglobin (HbF%) were determined in whold blood as diagnostic parameters in children with Beta-Thalassemia Major patient group and control group.

Results: A recent member of super family cytokines Interterleukin-33(IL-33) was determined in serum of Beta-Thalassemia Major Patients. Higher significant elevation was found when compared with healthy control.

Conclusion: From this study a conclusion was drawn, that evaluation of concentration of a new superfamily cytokines (IL-33) could be considered as clinical biochemical parameter in Beta-Thalassemia Major in Iraqi children patients. Also this study may demonstrated a relation between increased IL-33 levels and increased immunoglobulins and Iron overload.

Keywords: Beta-Thalassemia Major (BTM), cytokines, interleukin-33 (IL-33), immunoglobulins, Iron overload.