Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 27, 2026
An Immunohistopathologic Study to Profile the Folate Receptor Beta Macrophage and Vascular Immune Microenvironment in Giant Cell Arteritis
Published on: February 8, 2019
Folate receptor-β constitutes a marker for human proinflammatory monocytes
Jiayin Shen1, Andrew R Hilgenbrink1, Wei Xia1
1Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA;
Abstract:
Activated macrophages are commonly involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases and have been frequently reported to overexpress FR-β. Although FR-targeted therapies aimed at eliminating activated macrophages have shown promise for treating inflammatory diseases, little work has been performed to evaluate whether other hematopoietic cells might also express FR-β. Analysis of peripheral blood cells with a mAb to human FR-β reveals that only monocytes express FR-β. Molecular characterization of these circulating monocytes further demonstrates that solely the classic/proinflammatory subset (CD14(high)CD16(-)) expresses the FR and that only CD14(high)CD16(-) FR-β(+) monocytes also display the ability to bind folate-linked molecules. Confirmation that this subset of monocytes indeed constitutes the proinflammatory subpopulation was obtained by demonstrating coexpression of FR-β with other proinflammatory markers, including CCR2 and HLA-DR. Synovial monocytes from the joints of patients with RA were also shown to express FR-β. As inhibition of the chemotaxis of proinflammatory monocytes into sites of inflammation has been explored frequently as a means of controlling autoimmune diseases, demonstration that FR-β is uniquely expressed on this proinflammatory subpopulation offers a new strategy to suppress migration of inflammatory monocytes into sites of inflammation.
Insights
Folates receptor beta (FR-β) is uniquely expressed on pro-inflammatory monocytes. This finding offers a new strategy to target and suppress the migration of these inflammatory monocytes in autoimmune diseases.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Rheumatology
Background:
- Activated macrophages play a key role in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.
- Macrophages are known to overexpress Folate Receptor beta (FR-β).
- FR-targeted therapies show promise for inflammatory diseases, but expression on other cells is unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression of FR-β on various hematopoietic cells.
- To identify specific monocyte subsets expressing FR-β.
- To explore FR-β as a potential therapeutic target for autoimmune diseases.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of peripheral blood cells using a monoclonal antibody (mAb) to human FR-β.
- Molecular characterization of FR-β expressing monocytes.
- Assessment of folate-binding capacity and co-expression of inflammatory markers (CCR2, HLA-DR).
- Analysis of synovial monocytes from Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) patients.
Main Results:
- Only monocytes, specifically the classic/pro-inflammatory subset (CD14(high)CD16(-)), express FR-β.
- FR-β positive monocytes exhibit folate-binding capabilities.
- FR-β co-expresses with pro-inflammatory markers CCR2 and HLA-DR on monocytes.
- Synovial monocytes from RA patients also express FR-β.
Conclusions:
- FR-β is uniquely expressed on the pro-inflammatory monocyte subset.
- This specific expression pattern provides a novel target for therapeutic strategies.
- Targeting FR-β may suppress the migration of inflammatory monocytes into inflamed tissues, aiding autoimmune disease treatment.
More Related Videos
07:58Quantitative Imaging of Lineage-specific Toll-like Receptor-mediated Signaling in Monocytes and Dendritic Cells from Small Samples of Human Blood
Published on: April 16, 2012
11:48Isolation Protocol of Mouse Monocyte-derived Dendritic Cells and Their Subsequent In Vitro Activation with Tumor Immune Complexes
Published on: May 31, 2018
