Expression of programmed cell death 1 receptor and its downstream cytokines in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with generalized pustular psoriasis

Abstract

Objective To determine the expression of programmed cell death 1 receptor (PDCD1) , its ligands and downstream nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of patients with generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) . Methods The total RNA was extracted from 9 GPP patients and 10 healthy controls separately by using Trizol, and reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) was performed to determine the mRNA expression of PDCD1, programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) , PD-L2 and NF-κB. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was conducted to the serum levels of interleukin-27 (IL-27) , IL-22 and IL-4 in the peripheral blood of 23 GPP patients and 24 healthy controls. Results The mRNA expression of PDCD1 was significantly lower in the GPP group (3.13 ± 4.62) than in the healthy control group (23.70 ± 15.33, t= 3.40, P 0.05) . The GPP group also showed significantly higher levels of IL-27, IL-22 and IL-4 compared with the healthy control group (all P < 0.001) . Conclusion PDCD1 and its ligands were abnormally expressed in the PBMC of patients with GPP, and may play an important role in the occurrence and development of GPP. Key words: Psoriasis; Programmed cell death 1 receptor; Programmed cell death 1 ligand 2 protein; Antigens, CD274; NF-kappa B