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Leucocyte integrin and CR1 expression on peripheral blood leucocytes of patients with rheumatoid arthritis
D McCarthy1, M J Taylor, J Bernhagen
1School of Biological Sciences, Queen Mary and Westfield College, London, United Kingdom.
Insights
Leukocyte integrin expression differs in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Monocytes showed increased CD11b and CR1, suggesting activation, while lymphocyte CD18 expression decreased.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Rheumatology
Background:
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by joint inflammation.
- Leukocyte integrins play crucial roles in immune cell adhesion and migration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression of leucocyte integrins (CD11a, CD11b, CD11c/CD18) and CD35 (CR1) on peripheral blood leucocytes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Main Methods:
- Flow cytometry was used to measure the expression of specific leucocyte surface antigens.
- Peripheral blood leucocytes from RA patients (n=14) and healthy controls (n=12) were analyzed after rapid fixation and preparation.
Main Results:
- Patients with RA exhibited lower percentages of lymphocytes expressing CD11a and CD18 compared to controls.
- RA patients showed a higher percentage of monocytes expressing CD11b and CR1.
- Mean fluorescence intensity of CD18 on lymphocytes was decreased in RA patients, while CD11b and CR1 on monocytes were increased.
Conclusions:
- Altered expression of leucocyte integrins and CD35 on monocytes in RA patients suggests activation within the circulation.
- The functional significance of altered antigen expression on lymphocytes in RA requires further investigation.
Abstract:
Expression of the leucocyte integrins (CD11a, b, c/CD18) and of CD35 (CR1) on leucocytes from the peripheral blood of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (n = 14) and control subjects (n = 12) was measured by flow cytometry using a rapid fixation and leucocyte preparation procedure. The mean (SE) percentages of lymphocytes expressing CD11a (RA 93.4 (1.7)%; controls 97.2 (1.8)%) and CD18 (RA 91.3 (2.3)%; controls 97.0 (2.6)%) were lower and the percentage of monocytes expressing CD11b (RA 86.9 (11.4)%; controls 78.4 (11.9)%) and CR1 (RA 62.6 (15.5)%; controls 36.6 (17.6)%) were higher in patients with RA than in controls. In addition, the mean fluorescence intensity of CD18 (RA 22.1 (2.3); controls 30.7 (2.5)) on lymphocytes was decreased and that of CD11b (RA 4.5 (0.8); controls 2.9 (0.9)) and CR1 (RA 2.4 (0.4); controls 1.5 (0.5)) on monocytes was increased in patients with RA compared with controls. The functional importance (if any) of the altered expression of the antigens on lymphocytes is not yet known. Altered expression on monocytes is consistent with activation within the circulation.