Infliximab can attenuate pruritus in mice model of cholestasis induced by bile duct ligation; possible involvement of IL-31

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Zahra Ebrahim Soltani, Mohammad Elahi, Ahmad Reza Dehpour

Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran</br>
Experimental Medicine Research Center, Iran

: J Clin Exp Dermatol Res

Abstract

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Background: Cholestatic pruritus is a distressful sensation that can cause a massive desire of scratching skin. Despite maximum medication therapy, some patients still experience pruritus. In this study, we evaluated the effect of infliximab on cholestatic pruritus induced in mice by bile duct ligation. Methods: Twenty-four balb/c mice were randomly assigned to three groups; sham, control, and treatment. The bile duct ligation procedure was performed on mice in the control and treatment groups. After six days, mice in the treatment group received subcutaneous administration of infliximab, and the next day all mice were subjected to the scratching behavior test. Skin and blood samples of mice were collected and evaluated by histopathological, molecular, and biochemical tests. Results: The scratching behavior has significantly decreased in mice with cholestasis after the administration of infliximab. The levels of TNFα were higher in control mice compared to sham and treatment groups. In addition, expression levels of TNFR2, NF-κB, and IL-31 were decreased in the treatment group compared to the controls, while TNFR1 levels were increased. Conclusion: Infliximab can block TNFα interaction with receptors and inhibit further inflammatory response. Also, our results suggested that infliximab can suppress IL-31 expression indirectly, which is a well-known cytokine in pruritus pathophysiology. Infliximab can be a potential therapeutic approach in resistant pruritus in cholestatic disorders.

Biography

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Zahra is a medical doctor who graduated from Tehran University of Medical Science about a year ago. She has been interested in research since she started medical school and has worked on basic science and clinical research. Currently, she is a Postdoctoral researcher at the Experimental Medicine Research Center. Zahra’s research interests lie in the field of dermatology, specifically in wound healing, itch, and skin inflammation. She is enthusiastic about pursuing her research in these areas and hopes to make significant contributions to the field.