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Chang AY, Tritsch SR, Herrera Gomez CA, Encinales L, Cadena Bonfanti A, Rosales W, Mendoza-Torres E, Simmens S, Amdur RL, Mores CN, Fierbaugh P, Perez Hernandez CA, Avendaño G, Silvera PB, Crespo YG, Jimenez ADC, Martinez Zapata JC, Jimenez D, Osorio-Llanes E, Castellar-Lopez J, Suchowiecki K, Martins K, Gregory M, Zuluaga I, Proctor A, Hernández AS, Sierra-Carrero L, Colpas MV, Hernandez JCP, Quast AAF, De Barros JAC, Mejía JF, Ruiz JP, Boyle D, Firestein GS, Simon GL. Cytokine and T cell responses in post-chikungunya viral arthritis: A cross-sectional study. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0299521. [PMID: 38507338 PMCID: PMC10954186 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0299521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE 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. METHODS 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. RESULTS 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). CONCLUSION 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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aileen Y. Chang
- Department of Medicine, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Sarah R. Tritsch
- Department of Global Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | | | - Liliana Encinales
- Department of Medicine, Allied Research Society, Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia
| | | | - Wendy Rosales
- Advanced Biomedicine Research Group, Universidad Libre de Colombia, Seccional Barranquilla, Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia
| | - Evelyn Mendoza-Torres
- Advanced Biomedicine Research Group, Universidad Libre de Colombia, Seccional Barranquilla, Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia
| | - Samuel Simmens
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Richard L. Amdur
- Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, New York, United States of America
| | - Christopher N. Mores
- Department of Global Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Paige Fierbaugh
- Department of Medicine, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | | | - Geraldine Avendaño
- Centro de Investigación, Clínica de la Costa SAS, Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia
| | - Paula Bruges Silvera
- Centro de Investigación, Clínica de la Costa SAS, Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia
| | | | | | | | - Dennys Jimenez
- Centro de Investigación, Clínica de la Costa SAS, Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia
| | - Estefanie Osorio-Llanes
- Advanced Biomedicine Research Group, Universidad Libre de Colombia, Seccional Barranquilla, Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia
| | - Jairo Castellar-Lopez
- Advanced Biomedicine Research Group, Universidad Libre de Colombia, Seccional Barranquilla, Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia
| | - Karol Suchowiecki
- Department of Medicine, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Karen Martins
- U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Melissa Gregory
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation, In Support of Austere Environments Consortium for Enhanced Sepsis Outcomes (ACESO), Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Ivan Zuluaga
- Universidad Libre de Barranquilla, Clínica Iberoamérica, Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia
| | - Abigale Proctor
- Department of Global Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - José Forero Mejía
- Centro de Investigación, Clínica de la Costa SAS, Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia
| | - Johan Penagos Ruiz
- Centro de Investigación, Clínica de la Costa SAS, Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia
| | - David Boyle
- Department of Medicine, UC San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, CA, United States of America
| | - Gary S. Firestein
- Department of Medicine, UC San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, CA, United States of America
| | - Gary L. Simon
- Department of Medicine, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States of America
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