Basophil FCER1A and PTAFR Gene Expression Profiles Correlate With Disease Severity in Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria

Abstract

Background: Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria (CSU) is a debilitating skin condition characterized by recurrent wheals and pruritus, significantly impacting quality of life. Molecular mechanisms underlying different severity phenotypes are not fully understood. This study aimed to investigate the expression of FCER1A and PTAFR genes in basophils implicated in CSU pathogenesis from CSU patients with varying disease severities. Methods: We recruited 45 CSU patients, stratified into mild (n = 15), moderate (n = 15), and severe (n = 15) groups, and 15 healthy controls. Basophils were isolated from peripheral blood, and the relative mRNA expression of FCER1A and PTAFR genes was quantified using real-time PCR. Results: CSU patients exhibited significantly higher expression levels of FCER1A and PTAFR genes compared to healthy controls. FCER1A expression was significantly elevated in all CSU groups compared to controls and was higher in moderate and severe groups than in the mild group. PAFR expression was also significantly higher in moderate and severe CSU. Correlation analysis revealed that both FCER1A and PTAFR mRNA expression levels positively correlate with CSU severity. Conclusion: The expression of FCER1A and PTAFR genes in basophils correlates significantly with CSU severity, suggesting their potential as both prognostic and severity biomarkers. These findings highlight key molecular pathways that could be targeted for therapeutic intervention. Early detection of elevated gene expression could facilitate timely, targeted treatments, potentially reducing the progression to severe disease in CSU patients.