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Basal and stimulated elastolytic activity of blood monocytes is increased in glucocorticoid-treated giant cell
H S Jensen1, H H Mogensen, A G Mikkelsen
1Department of Medicine F, Gentofte University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Insights
Monocytes in patients with giant cell arteritis (GA) show heightened elastolytic activity, even with normalized inflammation markers during treatment. This suggests monocyte elastolytic activity could indicate in vivo cell activation in GA.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Rheumatology
Background:
- Giant cell arteritis (GA) is a systemic vasculitis often treated with glucocorticoids (GCs).
- Monocytes are key immune cells involved in inflammatory processes.
- Elastolytic activity of monocytes may play a role in inflammatory diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the elastolytic capacity of human blood monocytes in patients with newly diagnosed GA.
- To compare monocyte elastolytic activity in GA patients with age-matched controls.
- To assess the influence of immune complexes and phorbol myristic acetate on monocyte elastolytic activity in GA.
Main Methods:
- Studied elastolytic capacity of live human blood monocytes.
- Compared patients with newly diagnosed GA undergoing GC therapy to age-matched controls.
- Stimulated monocytes with immune complexes and phorbol myristic acetate.
Main Results:
- Monocytes from newly diagnosed GA patients exhibited significantly elevated basal elastolytic activity compared to controls (80 vs. 39 ng/h, p ≤ 0.01).
- Maximal elastolytic response was also enhanced in GA patients upon stimulation with immune complexes (224 vs. 125 ng/h, p ≤ 0.01) and phorbol myristic acetate (324 vs. 214 ng/h, p ≤ 0.01).
- No significant age-related differences in elastolytic activity were observed in healthy individuals.
Conclusions:
- Elevated monocyte elastolytic activity in GA patients persists despite normalized acute-phase reactants during GC therapy.
- Cell surface-related elastolytic activity of human monocytes may serve as a sensitive marker for in vivo cell activation in GA.
- Further research into monocyte function could provide insights into GA pathogenesis and treatment monitoring.
Abstract:
The elastolytic capacity of live human blood monocytes was studied in patients with giant cell arteritis (GA) and in age-matched controls. Despite normalized acute-phase reactants during glucocorticoid (GC) therapy, the basic activity of monocytes from patients with newly diagnosed GA was elevated compared with controls (80 vs. 39 ng/h, p less than or equal to 0.01). The maximum response was enhanced by stimulation with immune complexes (224 vs. 125 ng/h, p less than or equal to 0.01) and with phorbol myristic acetate (324 vs. 214 ng/h, p less than or equal to 0.01). No age difference was found between healthy young and old people. Cell surface related human monocyte elastolytic activity could act as a sensitive marker of cell activation in vivo.