Assessment of the Role of CTLA-4 and CD28 in a Sample of Iraqi Patients with Psoriasis in the Presence of Staphylococcus aureus Colonization

Abstract Background: There is substantial evidence that the dysregulation of immune cells in the skin, specifically T lymphocytes, plays a crucial role in the development of psoriasis. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the potential role of CTLA-4 and CD28 in the pathogenesis when Staphylococcus aureus is present. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the potential role of CTLA-4 and CD28 in the pathogenesis when Staphylococcus aureus is present. Materials and Methods: Swabs and blood samples were collected from 225 individuals who enrolled in this case‐control study. The patient group that participated in this study was recruited from the Dermatology consulting department at Al-Imamein Al Kadhimein Medical City, Baghdad, Iraq. The swabs were inoculated on blood agar media, then kept at 37ºC for 1 day in the aerobic environment for primary isolates of S. aureus, whereas sera were separated from the blood sample and used in enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) methods for the determination of CTLA-4 and CD28 concentrations. Results: Out of 225 individuals recruited in this study, there were 112 men whereas the women were 113 with male-to-female ratio of 1:1. Female patients’ age ranged from 7 to 70 years with a mean age of 31.67 years, whereas male patients’ age ranged from 5 to 52 years with a mean age of 25.27 years. Difference between means (6.405 ± 2.198), S. aureus isolates were identified in 82 (36.44%); serum samples from subjects for which S. aureus was isolated screened by ELISA for CTLA-4 and CD28. The results of the mean serum level of CTLA-4 demonstrated that there was an interesting highly significant difference ( P ≤ 0.0001) in CTLA-4 level between the psoriatic patient’s group versus negative control groups. Regarding CD28, the comparison among the three groups of individuals in this study showed significant differences between the positive control group versus the psoriatic patients’ group and the negative control group ( P < 0.05) in the mean serum level of CD28. Conclusion: There was a significant role of toxigenic isolates from S. aureus on CTLA-4 and CD28.