Original Paper

Immune Profiles of Patients with Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria
Stefania Piconi^a, Daria Trabattoni^b, Enrico Iemoli^a, Maria Luisa Fusi^b, Maria Luisa Villa^b, Francesco Milazzo^a, Mario Clerici<sup>b

a</sup>First Department of Infectious Disease and Allergy Unit, L. Sacco Hospital,
^bChair of Immunology, University of Milan, DISP LITA Vialba, Milan, Italy

Address of Corresponding Author

Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2002;128:59-66 (DOI: 10.1159/000058004)

  Key Words

• Chronic idiopathic urticaria
• Immunology
• T lymphocytes
• Cytokines
• Chemokines
• Adhesion molecules

  Abstract

Background: The immunologic characterization of chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) is still incomplete. In particular, it is not known if positivity to the intradermal autologous serum skin test (ASST) identifies an immunologic subset of CIU patients. Methods: Nineteen CIU patients and 15 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. A diagnostic flowchart was designed to select CIU patients, who were then analyzed by ASST. Cytokine and chemokine production and the expression of adhesion molecules was measured in patients and controls. Results: In CIU patients compared to controls, it was found that (1) TNF-, IL-10, MIP-1 and RANTES production was augmented and IL-2 and INF- reduced, and (2) CD44, CD11a and CD62L expression on CD4 and CD8 cells was augmented. Additionally, TNF- and chemokine production was significantly increased in CIU patients with a negative ASST (p-; n = 10) compared to patients with a positive response to the test. Conclusions: The presence of an inflammatory process in CIU patients is suggested by the findings that the production of both TNF- and chemokines as well as the expression of adhesion molecules is increased in these patients. Similarly to what is seen in rheumatoid arthritis, augmented IL-10 production might be secondary to the attempt to hamper the inflammatory milieu. Immune profiles are particularly altered in CIU p- patients, in whom a more aggressive therapeutic strategy might be considered.

Copyright © 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Correspondence to: Dr. Mario Clerici
Cattedra di Immunologia, Università di Milano
DISP LITA Vialba, Via G.B. Grassi, 74
I-20157 Milano (Italy)
Tel. +39 02 3821 0354, Fax +39 02 3821 0350, E-Mail mago@mailserver.unimi.it

  Article Information

Received: Received: June 1, 2001
Accepted after revision: October 16, 2001
Number of Print Pages : 8
Number of Figures : 5, Number of Tables : 2, Number of References : 40