Cytokine and T cell responses in post-chikungunya viral arthritis: A cross-sectional study.

Cytokine and T cell responses in post-chikungunya viral arthritis: A cross-sectional study.

<h4>Objective</h4>To define the relationship between chronic chikungunya post-viral arthritis disease severity, cytokine response and T cell subsets in order to identify potential targets for therapy.<h4>Methods</h4>Participants with chikungunya arthritis were recruited from...

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Main Authors: Aileen Y Chang, Sarah R Tritsch, Carlos Andres Herrera Gomez, Liliana Encinales, Andres Cadena Bonfanti, Wendy Rosales, Evelyn Mendoza-Torres, Samuel Simmens, Richard L Amdur, Christopher N Mores, Paige Fierbaugh, Carlos Alberto Perez Hernandez, Geraldine Avendaño, Paula Bruges Silvera, Yerlenis Galvis Crespo, Alberto David Cabana Jimenez, Jennifer Carolina Martinez Zapata, Dennys Jimenez, Estefanie Osorio-Llanes, Jairo Castellar-Lopez, Karol Suchowiecki, Karen Martins, Melissa Gregory, Ivan Zuluaga, Abigale Proctor, Alfonso Sucerquia Hernández, Leandro Sierra, Maria Villanueva Colpas, Juan Carlos Perez Hernandez, Andres Alberto Figueroa Quast, Joaquin Andres Calderon De Barros, José Forero Mejía, Johan Penagos Ruiz, David Boyle, Gary S Firestein, Gary L Simon
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2024-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0299521
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Summary:<h4>Objective</h4>To define the relationship between chronic chikungunya post-viral arthritis disease severity, cytokine response and T cell subsets in order to identify potential targets for therapy.<h4>Methods</h4>Participants with chikungunya arthritis were recruited from Colombia from 2019-2021. Arthritis disease severity was quantified using the Disease Activity Score-28 and an Arthritis-Flare Questionnaire adapted for chikungunya arthritis. Plasma cytokine concentrations (interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p70, IL-13, interferon-γ and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)) were measured using a Meso Scale Diagnostics assay. Peripheral blood T cell subsets were measured using flow cytometry.<h4>Results</h4>Among participants with chikungunya arthritis (N = 158), IL-2 levels and frequency of regulatory T cells (Tregs) were low. Increased arthritis disease activity was associated with higher levels of inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF and CRP) and immunoregulatory cytokine IL-10 (p<0.05). Increased arthritis flare activity was associated with higher Treg frequencies (p<0.05) without affecting T effector (Teff) frequencies, Treg/Teff ratios and Treg subsets. Finally, elevated levels of IL-2 were correlated with increased Treg frequency, percent Tregs out of CD4+ T cells, and Treg subsets expressing immunosuppressive markers, while also correlating with an increased percent Teff out of live lymphocytes (p<0.05).<h4>Conclusion</h4>Chikungunya arthritis is characterized by increased inflammatory cytokines and deficient IL-2 and Treg responses. Greater levels of IL-2 were associated with improved Treg numbers and immunosuppressive markers. Future research may consider targeting these pathways for therapy.
ISSN:1932-6203

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