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Peripheral blood monocytes reveal an activated phenotype in pediatric uveitis
Karoline Walscheid1, Lisa Neekamp2, Arnd Heiligenhaus3
1Department of Ophthalmology, Ophtha Lab, St. Franziskus-Hospital Muenster, Germany; Department of Pediatric Rheumatology and Immunology, University Hospital Muenster, Germany.
Insights
Peripheral blood monocytes in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis and uveitis show distinct phenotypes compared to healthy controls. These changes may be influenced by treatment rather than disease activity alone.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Pediatric Rheumatology
Background:
- Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a common cause of chronic childhood uveitis.
- Understanding the immune cell profiles in JIA-associated uveitis (JIAU) is crucial for targeted therapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the phenotype of peripheral blood monocytes in children with JIAU.
- To compare monocyte populations in JIAU, JIA without uveitis, idiopathic anterior uveitis (IAU), and healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Flow cytometry analysis of peripheral blood monocytes.
- Inclusion of patient groups: JIA with uveitis (n=18), JIA without uveitis (n=11), IAU (n=12), and healthy controls (n=11).
Main Results:
- Elevated CD14+CD86+ monocytes and CD86 expression in all patient groups compared to controls.
- Increased frequency of CD39+ and CD73+ monocytes observed in patients.
- Methotrexate treatment in JIAU patients correlated with reduced CCR2+ monocytes and increased CD86+ and CD39+ cells.
Conclusions:
- Children with JIA or uveitis exhibit a unique monocyte phenotype.
- Phenotypic alterations are not strictly dependent on arthritis or uveitis but can be modulated by therapeutic interventions.
Objective:
To characterize peripheral blood monocytes in uveitis associated with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIAU).
Methods:
Peripheral blood monocytes from children with JIA (either with (n = 18) or without uveitis (n = 11)), idiopathic anterior uveitis (IAU; n = 12) and healthy controls (n = 11) were analyzed by flow cytometry.
Results:
Percentage of CD14 + CD86+ monocytes and CD86 expression on single cell level were significantly higher in all patient groups than in controls, whereas no major differences existed between patient groups. Frequency of CD39+ (p < 0.05 all groups) and CD73+ monocytes (p = 0.03 JIAU vs controls) was elevated in patients. Disease activity did not influence monocyte phenotypes, but in methotrexate-treated JIAU patients numbers of CCR2+ monocytes were reduced and numbers of CD86+ and CD39+ cells increased.
Conclusion:
Children with arthritis or uveitis display a distinct monocytic phenotype when compared to cells from healthy children. Phenotypic changes seem to be neither arthritis- nor uveitis-dependent, but may be modified by treatment.
