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Updated: Aug 26, 2026
Isolation, Characterization and Functional Examination of the Gingival Immune Cell Network
Published on: February 16, 2016
Expression of CD14, CD16 and CD45RA on monocytes from periodontitis patients
T Nagasawa1, H Kobayashi, M Aramaki
1Periodontology, Department of Hard Tissue Engineering, Graduate School, 1-5-45, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Japan. toshiyuki-nagasawa.peri@tmd.ac.jp
Background And Objective:
Peripheral blood monocytes are a heterogeneous population, with phenotypes that change on activation or differentiation. Most of the monocytes express lipopolysaccharide (LPS) receptor, CD14 intensely, and do not express Fc gamma receptor III, CD16 (CD14++CD16- monocytes). But monocytes expressing CD16 with reduced CD14 (CD14+CD16+ monocytes) increase in inflammatory diseases as well as sepsis and bacteremia in hemodialysis patients. CD45RA is expressed on activated monocytes, and is regarded as an activation marker of peripheral blood monocytes. The purpose of this study was to determine the phenotypic and functional alteration of monocytes in periodontitis patients.
Methods:
Peripheral blood was collected from 33 aggressive periodontitis patients (22 females, 11 males), 55 chronic periodontitis patients (35 females, 20 males) and 30 healthy subjects (16 females, 14 males), and the expression of CD14, CD16 and CD45RA on monocytes was determined using flow cytometry. The production of interleukin-6 (IL-6) by CD16+ and CD16- monocytes stimulated with LPS from Escherichia coli and Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans was also examined using flow cytometry.
Results:
The percentage of CD14+CD16+ monocytes was significantly increased in chronic periodontitis patients. Percentage of monocytes expressing CD45RA was significantly increased in aggressive periodontitis patients compared to healthy subjects. CD16+ and CD16- monocytes produced IL-6 in response to LPS from E. coli and A. actinomycetemcomitans, and the percentage of IL-6 producing cells was higher in CD16+ monocytes than CD16- monocytes, suggesting that CD14+CD16+ monocytes represent a hyper-reactive phenotype.
Conclusions:
The present study demonstrated that CD14+CD16+ monocytes and CD45RA+ monocytes were increased in chronic and aggressive periodontitis, respectively. These findings suggest that alteration of monocytes in periodontitis patients could be evaluated by monitoring the surface expression of CD14, CD16 and CD45RA on monocytes.
Insights
Monocyte subsets, including CD14+CD16+ and CD45RA+ cells, are altered in periodontitis patients. Monitoring these monocyte changes may help evaluate the disease.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Oral Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Peripheral blood monocytes are a diverse cell population with phenotypes that shift upon activation or differentiation.
- While most monocytes express high levels of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) receptor CD14 and low levels of Fc gamma receptor III, CD16 (CD14++CD16-), an increase in CD14+CD16+ monocytes is observed in inflammatory conditions.
- CD45RA serves as an activation marker for peripheral blood monocytes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the phenotypic and functional changes of monocytes in patients with periodontitis.
- To compare monocyte populations in aggressive periodontitis, chronic periodontitis, and healthy individuals.
Main Methods:
- Peripheral blood samples were collected from 33 aggressive periodontitis patients, 55 chronic periodontitis patients, and 30 healthy controls.
- Flow cytometry was used to determine the expression of CD14, CD16, and CD45RA on monocytes.
- Interleukin-6 (IL-6) production by CD16+ and CD16- monocytes stimulated with LPS from E. coli and A. actinomycetemcomitans was assessed via flow cytometry.
Main Results:
- The percentage of CD14+CD16+ monocytes was significantly elevated in patients with chronic periodontitis.
- Monocytes expressing CD45RA were significantly increased in aggressive periodontitis patients compared to healthy subjects.
- Both CD16+ and CD16- monocytes produced IL-6 in response to LPS, with higher production observed in CD16+ monocytes, indicating a hyper-reactive phenotype.
Conclusions:
- CD14+CD16+ monocytes and CD45RA+ monocytes show increased prevalence in chronic and aggressive periodontitis, respectively.
- Surface expression levels of CD14, CD16, and CD45RA on monocytes can be used to evaluate alterations in periodontitis patients.
