QUANTIFICATION AND ANALYSIS OF GROWTH FACTORS IL-6, TGF-B, VEGF AND FGF-B IN THE CULTURE SUPERNATANTS OF MULTIPLE MYELOMA: A CORRELATION WITH THE TUMOR MICROENVIRONMENT

Abstract

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a monoclonal neoplastic plasma cell characterized by
the excessive proliferation of malignant plasma cells in the bone marrow. The bone
marrow microenvironment is necessary for the survival and proliferation of MM
cells. Within this microenvironment there is a complex cellular signaling involving
multiple cytokines conferring survival, tumor development and resistance to
chemotherapeutic agents. The purpose of this experimental work was to investigate the secretion of cytokines (IL-6, TGF-B, VEGF and FGF-B) in a MM cell line
(RPMI 8226). MM cells were cultured in culture fl asks containing RPMI 1640
supplemented with 10% Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) and kept in an incubator CO2
tension to 5% and 37º C. Quantifi cation of cytokines and growth factors present in
the cell culture supernatant of multiple myeloma was performed using the ELISA
method. Cytokines measured in cell supernatants, especially IL-6 and VEGF, relate
directly to the tumor microenvironment, promoting angiogenesis and signaling
pathways activating anti-apoptotic, which provide the MM cells the necessary
characteristics to survive and proliferate