Investigation of relationship between chronic spontaneous urticaria with microrna-221, micorna-155 and IL-31

Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is a common skin disease. However, the exact physiopathology remains unknown. MicroRNA is a family of non-coding RNAs, which consists of 19–25 nucleotides and regulates the expression of approximately 30% of human protein-coding mRNAs. Significant roles have been demonstrated in immune system functions such as cell differentiation, apoptosis, antiviral defense, differentiation of immunocytes, antibody production and inflammatory mediator release. IL-31represents a novel cytokine involved in pruritic skin diseases including atopic dermatitis. recently, studies have been carried out that mast cell degranulation in the pathogenesis of urticaria may be associated with microRNA-221 and microRNA-155.We aimed to investigate the possible roles of microRNA-155, microRNA-221 and IL-31 in the clarification of pathogenesis of CSU. We included 50 patients with CSU and 50 healthy controls. Patients with urticaria filled a questionnaire of disease activity (urticaria activity score – UAS) and done Autologous serum skin test (ASST) . Serum levels of IL-31 and total IgE were analysed. The expression of microRNA-155 and microRNA-221 was assessed by real time RT-PCR Expression of microRNA-155 and microRNA-221 in patients was significantly higher than in controls (fold change >2.2). The mean total IgE level was found to be statistically higher in patients with CSU (129.08±14.06) (IU/L) compared to controls (52.74±9.46) (IU/L), (p<0.01). There was a positive correlation between microRNA-155 and total IgE in all subjects (r=0.25, p<0.01). The difference between the mean serum IL-31 level of the patients with CSU (7.98±1.81) (pg/ml) and the mean serum IL-31 level of the controls (5.26±0.28) (pg/ml) was not statistically significant (p>0,05). There was a positive correlation between serum CRP level and microRNA-221 (r=0.28, p<0.01). In conclusion, considering microRNA-221 and microRNA-155 effects on both mast cell functions and inflammatory mediator, we think that it will guide the pathogenesis of CSU and novel methods of treatment. Keywords: Chronic spontaneous urticaria, MicroRNA-155, MicroRNA-221,IL-31.