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Low stimulated IL-4 secretion in PBMC from patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria
Ronit Confino-Cohen1, Arnon Goldberg, Dorit Aharoni
1Allergy and Clinical Immunology Unit, Sapir Medical Center, Kefar Saba, affiliated to Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Israel.
Insights
Chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) patients show reduced secretion of key immune signaling molecules, specifically Interleukin-4 (IL-4). This suggests a generalized down-regulation of both Th1 and Th2 immune responses in CIU.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cellular Immunology
Background:
- Th1/Th2 immune imbalance is noted in autoimmune diseases.
- This imbalance has not been previously studied in chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the secretion patterns of Th1 (IFNgamma, IL-2) and Th2 (IL-4, IL-10) cytokines in CIU patients.
- To compare these patterns with acute urticaria (AU) patients and healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 19 CIU patients, 6 AU patients, and 12 controls were analyzed.
- Cytokine secretion (peak, total, and pattern over time) was measured in resting and stimulated PBMC.
Main Results:
- CIU patients exhibited significantly reduced peak and total secretion of Interleukin-4 (IL-4).
- The IL-4 secretion pattern over time was markedly different in CIU patients compared to controls.
- Reduced late secretion of Interferon-gamma (IFNgamma) was observed in CIU patients.
- IL-2 secretion was lower in both CIU and AU patients versus controls, while IL-10 levels were comparable across groups.
Conclusions:
- This study is the first to demonstrate predominantly reduced IL-4 secretion in CIU.
- The findings indicate a generalized down-regulation of both Th1 and Th2 cytokine secretion in CIU.
- Observed cytokine aberrations were specific to CIU and not present in AU patients.
Abstract:
An imbalance between the Th1 and Th2 arms of the cellular immune system has been reported in several autoimmune diseases but not in chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU). Peak, total secretion and secretory pattern of the Th1 cytokines (IFNgamma and IL-2) and Th2 cytokines (IL-4 and IL-10) were determined in resting and stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from nineteen CIU patients, six acute urticaria patients and twelve controls. Stimulated IL-4 secretion was significantly reduced in CIU patients as indicated by their five- and three-fold lower peak levels and total IL-4 secretion, respectively. The IL-4 secretory pattern overtime was also markedly different in patients and controls. The late secretion of IFNgamma at 144 h was also reduced in CIU patients. These aberrations were not detectable in AU patients. Secretion of IL-2 was lower in CIU and AU patients as compared to controls while IL-10 secretion was comparable in the three groups. Our data demonstrate for the first time a predominantly reduced IL-4 secretion in CIU patients. This is associated with reduced secretion of both IL-2 and IFNgamma. These findings indicate a generalized down-regulation of both Th1 and Th2 cytokines' secretion in CIU.
