Evaluation of the Immune Checkpoints, TIM-3 and PD-1, as well as Anti-Inflammatory Cytokines IL-10, and TGF-β along with Diseases Activity in Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria

Sadeghi, Hadi; Ghaffari, Javad; Rajabi, Javad; Golpour, Monireh; Zuberbier, Torsten; Fattahi, Sadegh; Asgarian, Hossein; Rafiei, Alireza

doi:10.22088/IJMCM.BUMS.13.1.64

International Journal of Molecular and Cellular Medicine (IJMCM)

Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, Babol University of Medical Sciences

Thu, May 8, 2025 [Archive]

Volume 13, Issue 1 (Int J Mol Cell Med 2024) Int J Mol Cell Med 2024, 13(1): 64-78 | Back to browse issues page

‎ 10.22088/IJMCM.BUMS.13.1.64

Mendeley

Zotero

RefWorks

Sadeghi H, Ghaffari J, Rajabi J, Golpour M, Zuberbier T, Fattahi S, et al . Evaluation of the Immune Checkpoints, TIM-3 and PD-1, as well as Anti-Inflammatory Cytokines IL-10, and TGF-β along with Diseases Activity in Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria. Int J Mol Cell Med 2024; 13 (1) :64-78
URL: http://ijmcmed.org/article-1-2334-en.html

Evaluation of the Immune Checkpoints, TIM-3 and PD-1, as well as Anti-Inflammatory Cytokines IL-10, and TGF-β along with Diseases Activity in Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria

Hadi Sadeghi¹

, Javad Ghaffari²

, Javad Rajabi¹

, Monireh Golpour³

, Torsten Zuberbier⁴

, Sadegh Fattahi⁵

, Hossein Asgarian¹

, Alireza Rafiei⁶

1- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
2- Pediatric Infectious Diseases Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
3- Cancer Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
4- Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, a joint institution of Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
5- North Research Center of Pasteur Institute, Amol, Iran.
6- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran. , rafiei1710@gmail.com

Abstract: (778 Views)

Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is a skin disease caused by mast cells that produce inflammatory mediators. Immune checkpoint receptors such as program death-1 (PD-1) and T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 3 (TIM-3) are essential for the pathophysiology of many autoimmune and allergic diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of PD-1 and TIM-3 in CSU patients and their relationship to the anti-inflammatory cytokines (TGF-β and IL-10). In the current study, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from CSU patients and healthy individuals were used and the Urticaria Activity Score 7 (UAS7) was used to assess disease severity. TaqMan-based RT-PCR was used to assess the expression of TIM-3 and PD-1 as well as the anti-inflammatory cytokines transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and IL-10. The protein concentrations of TGF-β and IL-10 were also measured by ELISA. The relationship between the expression of TIM-3 and PD-1 as well as TGF- β and IL-10 and the severity of the disease was investigated. The results showed that PD-1 mRNA expression was significantly increased in CSU patients (P<0.0001), while TGF- β and IL-10 levels were higher in CSU patients, but this difference was not significant (p=0.638, p= 0.798). The increase in protein level of IL-10 was significant (P<0.0001). There was also a positive correlation between the expression of PD-1 and TGF- β molecules and disease activity (P=0.0043, P=0.0018). In conclusion, the study found that the immune system expresses inhibitory molecules and anti-inflammatory cytokines to control disease severity. The higher expression of PD-1 molecules and IL-10 is associated with disease severity, suggesting that the immune system is trying to control inflammation and reduce disease severity.