Abstract

Multiple myeloma is a neoplasmatic disease of the hematopoietic system which constitutes about 10% of all hematological roliferations. Anemia is a common symptom of myeloma, especially in patients with advanced disease, and its severity correlates with the clinical stage of myeloma. There are several factors involved in the pathogenesis of anemia in multiple myeloma: infi ltration of the bone marrow with monoclonal plasma cells, inadequate secretion of erythropoietin, shortened erythrocyte survival time, dysregulated iron metabolism, impaired marrow function due to proinfl ammatory cytokine secretion, and interaction between erythroblasts and malignant plasma cells. Recent fi ndings indicate an important function of apoptosis in regulating physiological erythropoiesis. In physiological conditions some erythroblasts undergo apoptosis, which is induced by proteins belonging to the TNF family, i.e. Fas(CD95), FasL(CD95L),and TRAIL (TNF-related apoptosis inducing-ligand) with its receptors – DR4 (Death Receptor 4), and DR5 (Death Receptor 5). Expression of Fas, DR4, and DR5 is detected on the cell membrane of erythroblasts in all stages, whereas FasL and TRAIL are present only in more mature erythroblasts.Interaction of mature erythroblast FasL+/TRAIL+ with immature erythroblast FasL–/TRAIL– results in apoptosis of the immature cell, which contributes to the down-regulation of hysiological erythropoiesis. The expression of proteins involved in erythropoiesis regulation is controlled by erythropoietin (EPO), which decreases erythroblast susceptibility to FasL and TRAIL stimulation and prevents apoptosis. On the other hand interferon gamma (IFN-g) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) increase Fas expression on erythroid cells and enhance their apotosis. Malignant plasma cells show increased expression of FasL and TRAIL and decreased expression of Fas, which make them more resistant to apoptotic signals. FasL+/TRAIL+ plasmocytes are involved in anemia pathogenesis in multiple myeloma patients by inducing apoptosis of erythroid cells. Monoclonal plasmocytes also secrete numerous cytokines involved in plasma cell growth, bone marrow neovascularisation and anemia.

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