Inverse correlation of soluble programmed cell death-1 ligand-1 (sPD-L1) with eosinophil count and clinical severity in allergic rhinitis patients.
BACKGROUND
T-cell response outcome is determined by co-stimulatory/inhibitory signals. Programmed cell death-1 ligand-1 (PD-L1) is a member of these co-signaling molecules with known soluble form in human serum. Soluble PD-L1 (sPD-L1) is also recognized in patients with some types of malignancy or autoimmune disorders, though there are few studies on sPD-L1 roles in allergic diseases. The purpose of this survey was to evaluate the association between sPD-L1 levels with eosinophil count as well as disease severity in allergic rhinitis (AR) patients.


METHODS
90 patients with AR were selected. Disease severity was determined by a modified Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) classification as mild, moderate and severe. Whole blood samples were collected. Then eosinophil count and serum sPD-L1 were detected by a hematologic analyzer and a commercial ELISA kit.


RESULTS
13 (14.44%), 31 (34.44%), and 46 (51.12%) of patients had mild, moderate and severe disease, respectively. The mean levels of sPD-L1 and eosinophil count were ascertained 18.38 ± 14.42 ng/ml and 422.43 ± 262.26 cell/μl. A significant inverse correlation was determined between sPD-L1 levels and eosinophil count (r = -0.364, P < 0.001). Moreover, we detected a significant negative association between sPD-L1 levels and disease severity (r = -0.384, P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
It is deduced that sPD-L1 can be used as a helpful marker to determine the severity of AR. Furthermore, this study indicated that sPD-L1 may have an inhibitory role in AR development, and its modulation may be considered as a useful accessory therapeutic approach for reduction of AR progression.
Cellular & Molecular Research Center, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran; Besat Hospital Clinical Research Center, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran.
Rasoul
R
Nasiri Kalmarzi
Student Research Committee, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran.
Nima
N
Fattahi
Immunology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran.
Zeinab
Z
Kaviani
Liver & Digestive Research Center, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran.
Pedram
P
Ataee
Besat Hospital Clinical Research Center, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran.
Majid
M
Mansouri
Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran.
Ghobad
G
Moradi
Educational Department, Royan Research Institute, Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Tehran, Iran.
Alireza
A
Yousefzade
Asthma and Allergy Center, Tehran Medical Sciences, Branch of Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: abbassi.jvd@gmail.com.
Javid Morad
JM
Abbassi
D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D060890:B7-H1 Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004804:Eosinophils; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D010641:Phenotype; D011379:Prognosis; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult
D000485:Allergens; D060890:B7-H1 Antigen; D015415:Biomarkers
Allergic rhinitis; Disease severity; Eosinophils; Soluble programmed cell death-1 ligand-1; Symptom intensity