Increased monocyte Fc(IgG) receptor expression in sarcoidosis

Since the macrophage Fc(IgG) receptor appears to be modulated by inflammatory stimuli, we measured the binding of monomeric IgG to monocytes and alveolar macrophages from patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis. Equilibrium binding studies were performed, and the number and affinity of Fc(IgG) receptors were calculated from Scatchard plots of the data. Monocytes from patients with sarcoidosis had nearly twice the number of binding sites for monomeric IgG as did the monocytes from normals. In contrast to the findings with monocytes, alveolar macrophages from patients with sarcoidosis did not have a greater number of monomeric IgG binding sites than did normal alveolar macrophages. These findings are consistent with those on the activation of circulating monocytes in sarcoidosis. That the number of Fc(IgG) receptors on sarcoid alveolar macrophages was not greater than that on normal alveolar macrophages suggests that Fc(IgG) receptor activity on alveolar macrophages does not reflect the activated state of sarcoidosis.