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Published on: August 8, 2025
[Measurement of NK cell and macrophage activation]
Midori Masuda1, Hakuo Takahashi
1Department of Clinical Sciences and Laboratory Medicine, Kansai Medical University, Moriguchi 570-8506, Japan. masuda@takii.kmu.ac.jp
Insights
Soluble FcgammaRIIIa (sFcgammaRIIIa) and FcgammaRIIIa (macrophage) (sFcgammaRIIIa(Mphi)) in plasma and urine may serve as novel biomarkers for inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, atherosclerosis, and nephritis.
Area of Science:
- Immunology: Focuses on Fc gamma receptors (FcγRs), specifically FcγRIII (CD16) isoforms.
- Biochemistry: Investigates the release mechanisms and detection of soluble FcγRIII variants.
- Clinical Diagnostics: Explores the utility of soluble FcγRIII as disease biomarkers.
Context:
- FcgammaRIII (CD16) exists as FcγRIIIa and FcγRIIIb, expressed on various immune cells.
- Both FcγRIII isoforms are released from cell surfaces upon activation or apoptosis.
- Levels of soluble FcγRIII (sFcγRIII) in bodily fluids reflect cellular activation states.
Purpose:
- To develop and utilize novel monoclonal antibodies for measuring sFcγRIIIa and sFcγRIIIa (macrophage) (sFcγRIIIa(Mphi)).
- To assess the potential of sFcγRIIIa and sFcγRIIIa(Mphi) as biomarkers in plasma and urine.
- To correlate sFcγRIII levels with disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis, atherosclerosis, and nephritis.
Summary:
- Quantified sFcγRIIIa and sFcγRIIIa(Mphi) in plasma and urine using newly developed monoclonal antibodies.
- Found sFcγRIIIa to be a potential marker for inflammatory activity in rheumatoid arthritis.
- Identified sFcγRIIIa(Mphi) as a possible predictive marker for atherosclerosis.
- Suggested urinary sFcγRIIIa and sFcγRIIIa(Mphi) as novel markers for nephritis disease activity.
Impact:
- sFcγRIIIa shows potential as a novel biomarker for monitoring inflammatory activity in rheumatoid arthritis.
- sFcγRIIIa(Mphi) may serve as a predictive biomarker for the development of atherosclerosis.
- Urinary sFcγRIIIa and sFcγRIIIa(Mphi) offer new avenues for assessing disease activity in nephritis.
Abstract:
FcgammaRIII(CD16), one of the low-affinity IgG Fc receptors exists in two forms. FcgammaRIIIa is expressed on NK cells, a subset of T lymphocytes, a subpopulation of monocytes and macrophages, and shows a cell type specific glycosylation pattern. FcgammaRIIIb is expressed exclusively on neutrophils in two allotypes, NA1/2, and it can be induced on eosinophils. Both FcyRIIIs are released from the cell surface. FcgammaRIIIa is released by the action of a metalloprotease upon the in vitro activation of NK cells and macrophages. FcgammaRIIIb is released upon activation and during the apoptosis of neutrophils by proteolytic activity. So, the amount of each type of soluble FcgammaRIII means the activation of each type of cell. We measured three types of soluble FcgammaRIII in plasma and also urine with newly developed anti-FcgammaRIIIa and anti-FcgammaRIIIa(Mphi) monoclonal antibodies. We found that sFcgammaRIIIa may be a novel marker of inflammatory activity in rheumatoid arthritis. sFcgammaRIIIa(M phi) may serve as predictive marker for atherosclerosis. Further, urinary sFcgammaRIIIa and sFcgammaRIIIa(Mphi) may be novel markers for the assessment of disease activity in nephritis.
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