Immunophenotype characteristics of peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes of Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria patients

Abstract

The pathogenesis of chronicidiopathic urticaria (CIU) is not completely under stood al though autoimmunity has been proposed. Theaim of the study was to as sess the expres sion of differ entleu ko cyte antigens, by flow cytometry, as say ing to tal blood of 29 pa tients with CIU and of 20 sex and age matched con trols. More over, we as sessed soluble CD154 a marker of immune cell activation, predominantly memory T cells. When patients were divided depend ing an their response to the autologous serum skin test (ASST), three different groups were en countered: group 1 (n = 11): with negative ASST, group 2 (n = 11): pos i tive ASST (ASST +) with normal lymphocyte counts and group 3 (n = 7): ASST + with low lymphocyte counts (< 1500 cells/mm3). A significant in crease in CD19+ per cent age and not in the absolute count (P < 0.05) was observed in group 1 as compared to controls and to the other groups. In contrast, CD30+, CD45RO+ and CD4+/CD45RO+ percent ages and biologically active soluble CD154 levels were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in group 3 as compared to group 1 or to controls. In ASST positive groups, CD45RO+ and CD4+/CD45RO+ positive ness correlates with wheal diameter. In conclusion, memory cells may play a role in these differ enttypes of patients and in under stand ing CIU pathogenesis.