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Published on: February 8, 2019
Serum soluble CD23 levels in giant cell arteritis
P Roblot1, F Morel, E Lelièvre
1Service de Medicine Interne, Chu la Miletrie, Poitiers, France.
Insights
Soluble CD23 (sCD23) levels are elevated in giant cell arteritis patients, indicating overproduction. Treatment with corticotherapy rapidly normalizes these serum sCD23 levels, suggesting its role in inflammation.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Rheumatology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- CD23, the low-affinity IgE receptor (Fc epsilon RII), is expressed on immune cells and can exist in soluble form (sCD23).
- Soluble CD23 (sCD23) plays a role in regulating immune cell functions, including T and B lymphocytes, macrophages, and myeloid cells.
- Giant cell arteritis is a systemic inflammatory disease affecting the temporal artery, often responsive to corticosteroid therapy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate serum sCD23 levels in patients with giant cell arteritis.
- To determine the effect of corticotherapy on serum sCD23 levels in this condition.
Main Methods:
- Serum sCD23 levels were measured using radioimmunoassay.
- Patients with giant cell arteritis were selected for the study.
- Serum sCD23 levels were assessed before and after initiation of corticotherapy.
Main Results:
- Serum sCD23 levels were significantly increased in patients with giant cell arteritis compared to controls.
- Following the initiation of corticotherapy, serum sCD23 levels returned to normal within 24 hours.
- The findings suggest an overproduction of sCD23 in the context of giant cell arteritis.
Conclusions:
- Elevated serum sCD23 levels are associated with giant cell arteritis.
- Corticotherapy effectively reduces elevated sCD23 levels, indicating a link between inflammation and sCD23 production.
- The study suggests that increased sCD23 in giant cell arteritis stems from overproduction, potentially serving as a biomarker or therapeutic target.
Abstract:
Lymphocytes and monocytes express various levels of membrane-bound CD23, the low affinity receptor for IgE (Fc epsilon RII), and in some cases release it as a soluble form. Soluble CD23 (sCD23) has been implicated in the regulation of many immunological functions of T and B lymphocytes, macrophages and myeloid cells in humans. To study serum sCD23 levels in inflammatory conditions, we selected a systemic disease sensitive to corticotherapy, the giant cell arteritis, which is characterized by an inflammation of the temporal artery. Serum sCD23 levels, as measured by a radioimmunoassay, were increased in these patients, and returned to normal values within the 24 h following initiation of corticotherapy. The data suggest that the increase in sCD23 levels in giant cell arteritis results from an overproduction.

