The correlation between Th17/Treg immune dysregulation and the disease severity in chronic spontaneous urticaria patients

Abstract

Abstract Objective Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) has a profound impact on the sleep quality, productivity and overall quality of life of affected individuals. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between serum Th17/Treg immune dysregulation and the severity of CSU in patients. Methods Clinical baseline data of 120 CSU patients and matched healthy controls were recorded. The pruritus level, disease severity, and quality of life of CSU patients were assessed using the visual analogue scale, weekly Urticaria Activity Score and chronic urticaria quality of life questionnaire, respectively. The Th17/Treg cell ratio was detected by flow cytometry. ELISA was used to measure the levels of serum Th17 cytokines (IL‐17, IL‐21) and Treg cytokines (TGF‐β1, IL‐35). Pearson's correlation analysis was conducted to examine the associations between these indicators. Results No significant differences were identified in terms of sex, age, and BMI between the two groups. However, CSU patients exhibited a significant increase in the Th17 cell ratio, as well as the elevated serum levels of TGF‐β1, IL‐17 and, IL‐21. Conversely, the proportion of Treg cells and the levels of IL‐35 were remarkably decreased in CSU patients. Peripheral blood Th17 cells were negatively correlated with Treg cells. The severity of pruritus, life quality, and disease severity in CSU patients were positively correlated to Th17 cell ratio, and inversely correlated with Treg cell proportion. Conclusions A positive correlation was found between the percentage of peripheral blood Th17 cell in CSU patients and the pruritus level, life quality, and disease severity. In constrast, there was a negative correlation between the proportion of peripheral blood Treg cells and these clinical parameters.

Keywords

• chronic spontaneous urticaria
• disease severity
• IL‐17
• IL‐21
• IL‐35
• immune dysregulation