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Spontaneous NBT reduction by monocytes as a marker of disease activity in children with histiocytosis
Author(s) -
Burgio G. Roberto,
Aricó Maurizio,
Marconi Massimo,
Lanfranchi Arnalda,
Caselli Désirée,
Ugazio Alberto G.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2141.1990.00086.x-i1
Subject(s) - langerhans cell histiocytosis , medicine , histiocytosis , monocyte , immunology , hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis , disease
Summary In an attempt to define a biological marker of monocyte hyperactivation in the course of infantile histiocytosis, the spontaneous nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction assay was applied to monocytes from 13 children with Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH), familial haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (FHL), juvenile xanthogranuloma or malignant histiocytosis. Significant increase in NBT reduction was observed in the patients with both active LCH and FHL in comparison with control subjects, who were either healthy or affected by different conditions. A close relationship between spontaneous reduction rate and clinical condition of the patients was evident in patients tested at diagnosis, during remission and during the course of disease reactivation. Interleukin‐1 (IL‐1) production by monocytes was also evaluated: the patients with LCH and FHL displayed a significant increase in in vitro IL‐1 production by lipopolysaccharide‐stimulated monocytes. In our experience the spontaneous NBT reduction assay was a sensitive, quite specific, low‐cost and reproducible test for the evaluation of children with histiocytosis. Useful information may be obtained at diagnosis but also during the clinical course of disease by using this marker of monocyte spontaneous activation.