Pro inflammatory IL-1β: A potential biomarker for chronic chikungunya arthritis condition

Cytokines and chemokines play a crucial role in orchestrating the immune response to chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection, influencing disease course and outcome. Although significant efforts have been made to understand the cytokine signatures associated with CHIKV infection, the identification of specific cytokine biomarkers across different disease stages remains incomplete.

We have assessed CHIKV-specific cytokine, chemokine profiles of 17 analytes in 50 acute chikungunya patients, 31 chronic chikungunya arthritis patients, 30 recovered individuals, and 23 healthy controls. The cytokine and chemokines were measured in the supernatant of PBMCs stimulated in vitro with inactivated chikungunya virus.

It was observed that chronic chikungunya arthritis patients exhibited significantly higher levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and GM-CSF compared to all other groups. MCP-1 levels were elevated in patient groups compared to recovered and control individuals. IL-1β emerged as a potential biomarker for chronic chikungunya arthritis based on ROC analysis. A negative correlation between IFN-γ levels and CHIKV load was observed in acute patients, suggesting its antiviral role. IL-12 levels were higher in recovered individuals compared to all other groups, while IFN-γ levels were elevated in recovered individuals compared to acute patients.

Our findings highlight IL-1β as a potential biomarker for chronic chikungunya arthritis and suggest that GM-CSF inhibition could serve as a therapeutic intervention for disease-associated chronic inflammation. The observed co-regulation of IL-12 and IFN-γ in recovered individuals needs further investigation into their role in disease resolution. These insights provide a deeper understanding of the immunopathogenesis of CHIKV infection and may contribute in future diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.