Alterations in peripheral blood monocyte and dendritic cell subset homeostasis in relapsing-remitting multiple
Andreia Monteiro1, Pedro Rosado2, Luiza Rosado3
1Centro de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade da Beira Interior (CICS-UBI), Avenida Infante D. Henrique, Covilhã 6200-506, Portugal; Serviço Patologia Clínica, Centro Hospitalar Universitário Cova da Beira, Quinta do Alvito, 6200-251 Covilhã, Portugal.
Abstract:
Antigen-presenting cells participate and are implicated in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis. In our study we assessed the frequency of plasmacytoid (pDC) and myeloid (mDC) dendritic cells and the classical, intermediate and non-classical monocytes subsets, as well as their phenotypic and functional profile. We evaluated peripheral blood from relapsing-remitting patients treated with IFN-β in remission and relapse phases and from healthy subjects. In remission, we observed a decrease of mDC/pDC ratio and a return to normal values in relapse. In both phases the frequency of non-classical monocytes decreases. Concerning the phenotypic characterization, an increased HLA-DR expression was observed in remission and a decrease in relapse, revealing alterations in monocytes and dendritic cells homeostasis.
