结节性痒疹免疫机制及生物制剂研究进展

李江徽1, 傅嘉莹1, 孙琴1, 李佳芸1, 雷焕焕1, 闫小宁2

【作者机构】 1陕西中医药大学第一临床医学院; 2陕西省中医医院皮肤科
【分 类 号】 R751
【基    金】 重大疑难疾病中西医临床协作项目(国中医药综结合发〔2024〕3号) 陕西省创新能力支撑计划项目(2022GHJD-04) 西安市科技计划项目医学研究重点项目(24YXYJ0002)。
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结节性痒疹免疫机制及生物制剂研究进展

结节性痒疹免疫机制及生物制剂研究进展

李江徽1 傅嘉莹1 孙 琴1 李佳芸1 雷焕焕1 闫小宁2▲

1.陕西中医药大学第一临床医学院,陕西咸阳 712046;2.陕西省中医医院皮肤科,陕西西安 710004

[摘要] 结节性痒疹是一种以慢性顽固性瘙痒和结节性皮损为特征的炎症性皮肤病,其发病机制以2型免疫反应主导,并伴随神经-免疫-上皮互作失衡。T淋巴细胞、巨噬细胞、肥大细胞等通过白细胞介素(IL)-4、IL-13、IL-31及癌抑素M等细胞因子激活JAK/STAT、MAPK等信号通路,诱导感觉神经敏化、角质形成细胞增殖及真皮纤维化,维持“瘙痒-搔抓”恶性循环。基于上述机制,靶向关键炎症轴的生物制剂在临床治疗中取得显著进展,如阻断IL-4/IL-13信号通路的度普利尤单抗、靶向IL-13的曲罗芦单抗和来瑞组单抗、抑制IL-31信号的奈莫利珠单抗,以及同时阻断IL-31与癌抑素M通路的韦克瑞利单抗等,均在改善瘙痒、皮损及生活质量方面显示良好疗效与安全性。本文综述结节性痒疹的免疫病理机制及生物制剂靶向治疗进展。

[关键词] 结节性痒疹;免疫机制;生物制剂;治疗

结节性痒疹(prurigo nodularis,PN)是一种慢性炎症性皮肤病,临床特征为持续 ≥6周的多发性半球形瘙痒性丘疹和结节,流行病学数据差异较大,为(8~200)/100 000[1]。其发病机制尚未完全阐明,多认为与神经-免疫-上皮相互作用失衡有关,其中混合炎症细胞浸润导致的免疫紊乱是促进“瘙痒-搔抓”循环的核心[2]。随着病理机制研究的深入,靶向特定分子及通路的生物制剂在临床应用中占比逐渐增高,推动PN治疗向精准化方向发展。本文综述PN的免疫机制及生物制剂研究进展。

1 免疫机制

PN的皮肤免疫失调表现为T淋巴细胞、巨噬细胞、肥大细胞和嗜酸性粒细胞等促炎性细胞因子的混合浸润,通过释放多种介质维持炎症并引发瘙痒,其中2型免疫轴失调在引起其临床表现中起关键作用[3]

综合来看,PN并非单一细胞或通路驱动的疾病,而是由以Th2免疫为核心、结合神经调控与成纤维反应的多细胞协同炎症网络所致。免疫细胞释放的2型细胞因子不仅直接激活感觉神经引发瘙痒,还通过刺激角质形成细胞与成纤维细胞促进表皮增生和真皮纤维化,从而在结构重塑层面固化炎症状态。这种“免疫激活-神经敏化-组织重塑”的病理轴为PN的顽固、迁延及复发倾向提供依据,提示单一靶点治疗可能难以同时阻断瘙痒与结节形成两个关键环节。

1.1 巨噬细胞

巨噬细胞是真皮中白细胞介素(interleukin,IL)-31的重要来源,2型细胞因子促其极化为M2表型并分泌IL-31诱发PN瘙痒、表皮增生和真皮纤维化等症状[4]。研究显示,磷酸化ERK1/2信号通路相关的CD14+巨噬细胞表达水平与PN瘙痒程度呈正相关,ERK信号介导癌抑素M受体(oncostatin M receptor,OSMR)及IL-4、IL-13、IL-31等下游效应,是多种瘙痒性皮肤疾病的共同靶点,提示巨噬细胞在PN纤维化与瘙痒机制中的重要作用[5]

1.2 肥大细胞

肥大细胞相关介质IL-31、OSMRβ及Mas相关G蛋白偶联受体X2的表达水平与PN严重程度相关[4]。肥大细胞是癌抑素M(oncostatin M,OSM)的主要来源,在病变皮肤中高表达IL-31RA,OSM通过协同IL-31信号、结合OSMRβ激活角质形成细胞,促进嗜酸性粒细胞及淋巴细胞浸润的方式参与PN发病[6]。Mas相关G蛋白偶联受体X2介导肥大细胞脱颗粒,化合物48/80、P物质及肾上腺髓质素基因编码的肾上腺髓质素原N端20肽作为其配体,介导肥大细胞释放炎症介质[7]。此过程进一步激活皮损区域神经元,促使感觉神经释放降钙素基因相关肽等神经肽与肥大细胞相互作用,形成持续的神经源性炎症与“瘙痒-抓挠”循环[8]

1.3 嗜酸性粒细胞

嗜酸性粒细胞聚集是2型免疫的特征,Th2细胞通过IL-4、IL-13促进B淋巴细胞免疫球蛋白E类别转换并由IL-5将嗜酸性粒细胞维持在组织内[9]。研究显示,PN患者血液中促进嗜酸性粒细胞趋化的细胞因子水平升高,如嗜酸性趋化素-3、单核细胞趋化蛋白-1、单核细胞趋化蛋白-4等[10]。嗜酸性粒细胞通过其产生的干细胞因子与受体KIT结合,驱动肥大细胞分化、迁移和增殖,并通过过氧化物酶和主要碱性蛋白激活肥大细胞上的Mas相关G蛋白偶联受体X2[11]。嗜酸性粒细胞衍生的神经毒素和嗜酸性粒细胞蛋白X水平在PN皮损中升高,参与神经-免疫串扰机制[12]。此外,嗜酸性粒细胞表达存在种族差异,白种人和亚洲PN患者的嗜酸性粒细胞及Th2炎症标志物水平较非裔美国人更高[10]

1.4 T淋巴细胞

转录组及炎症标志物分析显示,PN可分为两种免疫特征型,其中Th2及其因子在引起PN临床表现中起关键作用,同时Th1、Th17和Th22轴存在不同程度的激活[13]

Th2免疫:PN病变中2型免疫相关基因如IL-4、IL-13及受体IL-4Rα的表达增强,激活下游JAK/STAT信号通路,尤其是JAK1和STAT6[14]。IL-4和IL-13激活皮肤感觉神经元并以JAK1依赖的方式增强其对炎症介质的敏感性,介导慢性瘙痒的发生[15];其还可磷酸化STAT6并刺激真皮成纤维细胞分泌骨膜蛋白,诱导角质形成细胞分泌胸腺基质淋巴细胞生成素,从而加重2型炎症并促进表皮增生和纤维化[16]。此外,IL-4/IL-13/JAK/STAT3/STAT6轴的过度激活可抑制丝聚蛋白、兜甲蛋白及外膜蛋白等表皮屏障蛋白表达,产生活性氧并进一步加强STAT6信号,破坏表皮屏障功能[17]

IL-31信号通路标志物(IL-31与IL-31Rα、OSM与OSMRβ等)在病变皮肤中表达显著上调[18]。IL-31可单独诱导瘙痒,其机制在于刺激感觉神经纤维和真皮细胞表达IL-31RA/OSMR异二聚体,激活JAK1/STAT3信号通路,从而引起瘙痒症状[19]。研究显示,PN皮肤微生物组的主要菌种金黄色葡萄球菌可产生毒力因子及V8蛋白酶促进IL-31等炎症因子产生,并通过激活感觉神经元蛋白酶激活受体1引起强烈的瘙痒[20-21]。全基因组关联研究证实IL-31为PN最强的遗传信号(12q24.31位点),可调节T淋巴细胞和角质形成细胞基因表达,提示其兼具免疫与遗传作用机制[22]

OSM属IL-6家族细胞因子,可致皮肤炎症、角化过度、纤维化和瘙痒等症状[4]。OSM与OSMR结合后激活JAK1/2,磷酸化OSMR信号通路并募集STAT1/3,经核转移后调节基因转录;同时通过Src同源2域蛋白酪氨酸磷酸酶-2和Src同源性胶原蛋白激活RAS丝裂原激活的蛋白激酶(mitogen activation protein kinase,MAPK),进一步激活ERK1/2、JNK及p38信号通路,诱导皮肤感觉神经延长并增强其对机械刺激的敏感性[23-24]

尽管Th1、Th17和Th22免疫并非PN主要驱动因素,但可与Th2反应共同激活。转录组分析显示,PN病变中Th1相关因子上调(如CD40、IL-18)且在非裔美国患者中更显著[25]。单细胞RNA测序显示,PN与银屑病共享3 775个差异表达基因,其中Th17相关的最多[26]。IL-17A在PN皮肤中富集,作为IL-31下游信号激活JAK/STAT和MAPK信号通路,通过诱导角质形成细胞产生内皮素-1及IL-36,促进瘙痒、色素沉着及局部炎症[27]。此外,PN患者的IL-22、IL-22受体及其驱动的促炎性细胞因子S100A7/8/9/12表达显著上调,可刺激角质形成细胞增殖和表皮分化,加重炎症与瘙痒[28]

因此,Th2免疫在多数PN患者中占主导地位的同时,不同患者在Th1、Th17及Th22通路的活化程度上差异显著。提示PN可能并非单一免疫内型疾病,而更接近由多种免疫亚型构成的复杂状态,在一定程度上可解释部分患者对单一靶点治疗反应不足的临床现象。未来结合分子分型指导靶向用药,可能成为提升疗效与避免过度治疗的重要方向。

2 生物制剂

PN的治疗目标是缓解瘙痒、打破“瘙痒-抓挠”循环并改善皮损,其长期防治及管理具有挑战性,因此应综合考虑患者的病变程度、免疫亚型和治疗安全等因素以制订个性化治疗方案。

2.1 度普利尤单抗

度普利尤单抗靶向IL-4Rα,可同时阻断IL-4和IL-13信号转导,2023年获国家药品监督管理局批准用于中重度成人PN[29]。Ⅲ期研究显示,度普利尤单抗在改善中重度PN症状方面的效果显著,起效快且药效久,治疗第24周35.3%的患者瘙痒缓解且皮损改善(安慰剂组为8.9%),全部疗程内安全性良好[30]。国内多中心观察性研究显示,度普利尤单抗可有效改善患者的瘙痒、疼痛、皮损和生活质量等,并具有良好的耐受性[31]。Bao等[32]研究显示,度普利尤单抗可通过调节血液中免疫及纤维化相关介质水平以影响PN及共病进程。

2.2 曲罗芦单抗和来瑞组单抗

曲罗芦单抗和来瑞组单抗均靶向IL-13,但在分子途径和临床疗效方面存在差异。曲罗芦单抗通过阻断IL-13与IL-13Rα1/2结合中和IL-13,这种选择性抑制在激活上游免疫的同时阻断其驱动的外周效应,减少瘙痒信号传导并改善皮肤屏障功能[33]。ECZTRA系列试验显示,曲罗芦单抗在青少年及成人中、重度特应性皮炎中疗效明确且安全性良好[34]。在一项针对17例PN表型特应性皮炎患者研究中,经16周曲罗芦单抗治疗,76%患者的研究者整体评分达到0或1分(皮肤完全或几乎正常),提示其在PN治疗中的潜力[35]。结膜炎是其主要不良反应,但较度普利尤单抗发生率更低且症状更轻[36]

来瑞组单抗可阻止IL-13形成IL-13Rα1/IL-4Rα复合物,从而减轻瘙痒、炎症及表皮增生,临床及长期扩展研究显示其对患者皮损、瘙痒、睡眠及生活质量均改善,具有良好的安全性和长期疗效[37-38]。来瑞组单抗的结合亲和力更高、解离速度更慢,相较曲罗芦单抗,其临床疗效更优且眼部症状发生率更低,可能成为两者的更优选[39]

2.3 奈莫利珠单抗

奈莫利珠单抗靶向IL-31Rα,通过阻断IL-31与感觉神经元和角质形成细胞上的IL-31Rα结合,抑制JAK/STAT、PI3K/Akt、MAPK等下游信号通路,从而减少皮肤屏障破坏、炎症和纤维化,2025年获美国食品药品监督管理局批准用于治疗PN[18]。Ⅲ期试验显示,奈莫利珠单抗显著减轻瘙痒,56.3%的患者峰值瘙痒数值评定量表评分下降 ≥4分,第16周37.7%患者研究者整体评分达0分,安慰剂组仅为20.9%和11.0%,患者睡眠和生活质量明显改善且长期疗效稳定[40]。目前,正在进行多项长期安全性试验以进一步评估其安全性和有效性[41]。研究显示,经奈莫利珠单抗治疗12周后,PN皮损区域葡萄球菌丰度明显下降,微生物组水平接近非病变区,为其治疗机制提供证据[42]

2.4 韦克瑞利单抗

韦克瑞利单抗靶向OSMRβ,通过同时抑制IL-31和OSM信号实现双重抑制,改善PN瘙痒和纤维化症状,2020年获美国食品药品监督管理局批准用于治疗PN[43]。Ⅱa期试验显示,52.2%的患者最严重瘙痒数字评分下降 ≥4分(安慰剂组为30.8%),第8周时30.4%的患者研究者整体评分达0或1分,且睡眠质量、皮肤病生活质量指数评分均改善;与靶向单一通路的制剂相比,韦克瑞利单抗对瘙痒缓解和结节数量的改善更迅速,安全及耐受性良好;该研究的Ⅱb期子研究为期52周,将在第16周时评估最严重瘙痒数字评分相对基线的变化并于第52周评估药效,其结果值得持续关注[44]

2.5 诺卡替利单抗

诺卡替利单抗是靶向OX40的人源非岩藻糖基化单克隆免疫球蛋白G1抗体。OX40为T淋巴细胞共刺激因子,诺卡替利单抗通过抑制OX40/OX40L信号通路调节T淋巴细胞亚群并减少炎症因子分泌,缓解PN炎症和进展[45]。Ⅱb期试验显示,诺卡替利单抗具有显著的疗效,第16周31%的患者研究者整体评分0或1分,54%的患者湿疹面积及严重程度指数评分下降 ≥75%,而安慰剂组分别为2%和11%;治疗停止后长期控制良好,在第56周复发的患者仅为4%~27%[46]。一项为期52周的Ⅲ期试验将评估诺卡替利单抗治疗成人PN患者的效果、安全性及耐受性,评估瘙痒改善效果及24周最严重瘙痒数字评分,其结果仍需持续关注[47]

2.6 其他生物制剂

目前,包括SHR-1819、Stapokibart和MG-K10在内的3种IL-4Rα拮抗剂正在针对PN进行临床研发,将在Ⅲ期试验中评估其疗效与安全性,受试者按比例随机分组接受不同剂量的药物或安慰剂,评估治疗期间及结束时最严重瘙痒数字评分下降 ≥4分的患者比例[41,48-49]

靶向IL-4/IL-13信号通路制剂在改善炎症及皮损方面具有优势且应用广泛,而靶向IL-31及OSM信号的治疗在瘙痒控制方面更具针对性。部分新型药物通过双通路阻断或T淋巴细胞共刺激调节实现更广谱的免疫干预,提示未来PN治疗可能逐步向多通路协同调控转变。然而,不同药物在起效速度、维持疗效及不良反应等方面仍存在差异,需更多的比较研究与真实世界数据支持。

3 小结

PN的发病机制复杂,2型免疫反应在其病理过程中起核心作用。近年来,靶向免疫通路的生物制剂在PN治疗中展现显著效果,尤其在缓解顽固性瘙痒、皮肤增生和纤维化方面具有优势。生物制剂为难治性患者提供新的治疗选择,不良反应较传统疗法更小,显著改善患者生活质量,然而其临床应用仍面临挑战,特别是在个体化治疗方案的制订、长期疗效、安全评估及治疗成本等方面。未来研究应关注PN免疫亚型与治疗反应的内在联系,优化给药方案,评估长期疗效并解决治疗成本给患者带来的经济负担。

利益冲突声明:本文所有作者均声明不存在利益冲突。

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Research progress on immune mechanism and biological agent of prurigo nodularis

LI Jianghui1 FU Jiaying1 SUN Qin1 LI Jiayun1 LEI Huanhuan1 YAN Xiaoning2

1.The First Clinical Medical College, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Shaanxi Province, Xi’an 712046, China;2.Department of Dermatology, Shaanxi Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shaanxi Province, Xi’an 710004, China

[Abstract] Prurigo nodularis is an inflammatory skin disease characterized by chronic, intractable pruritus and nodular skin lesions, its pathophysiology is dominated by type 2 immune responses, and is accompanied by an imbalance in neuro-immune-epithelial interaction. T lymphocytes, macrophages, mast cells activate signaling pathways including JAK/STAT and MAPK via cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-4, IL-13, IL-31 and oncostatin M, induces sensory nerve sensitization, keratinocyte proliferation and dermal fibrosis, thereby sustaining “itch-scratch” vicious cycle. Based on this mechanism, biological agent targeting key inflammatory axes have achieved significant progress in clinical treatment,for instance, Dupilumab which blocks IL-4/IL-13 signaling pathway, Tralokinumab and Lebrikizumab which target IL-13, Nemolizumab which inhibits IL-31 signaling, Vixarelimab which simultaneously blocks IL-31 and oncostatin M signaling pathways, have all demonstrated favorable efficacy and safety in improving pruritus, skin lesions and quality of life.This article reviews immunopathological mechanisms of prurigo nodularis and progress in targeted biological agent.

[Key words] Prurigo nodularis; Immune mechanism; Biological agent; Treatment

[中图分类号] R751

[文献标识码] A

[文章编号] 1673-7210(2026)07(b)-0182-05

DOI:10.20047/j.issn1673-7210.25120011

[基金项目] 重大疑难疾病中西医临床协作项目(国中医药综结合发〔2024〕3号);陕西省创新能力支撑计划项目(2022GHJD-04);西安市科技计划项目医学研究重点项目(24YXYJ0002)。

通讯作者

收稿日期:2025-12-01)

修回日期:2026-02-01)

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