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Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Quantification of Monocyte Transmigration and Foam Cell Formation from Individuals with Chronic Inflammatory Conditions
Published on: October 17, 2017
Increased CD36 expression signals monocyte activation among patients with type 2 diabetes
Yijuan Sun1, Marina Scavini, Robert A Orlando
1Department of Medicine, Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.
Objective:
To explore the hypothesis that CD36, a scavenger receptor and fatty acid translocase, is upregulated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) among patients with type 2 diabetes and is a biomarker of PBMC activation and inflammation.
Research Design And Methods:
We used a cross-sectional observational design to study a multi-racial/ethnic population sample consisting of Caucasians, Hispanics, and Native Americans with type 2 diabetes (n = 33) and nondiabetic control subjects (n = 27). PBMC CD36 mRNA/protein and plasma high sensitivity (hs) C-reactive protein (hsCRP), hs-interleukin-6 (hsIL-6), and adiponectin were measured.
Results:
Unadjusted PBMC CD36 mRNA and protein were 1.56- and 1.63-fold higher, respectively, among type 2 diabetic subjects versus control subjects. PBMC CD36 protein was directly associated with CD36 mRNA, plasma hsCRP, and hsIL-6 and inversely associated with plasma adiponectin in both groups.
Conclusions:
Increased CD36 expression is a biomarker of PBMC activation and inflammation and may become a useful tool in cardiovascular disease risk stratification.
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