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Blood levels of CD11bH+ memory T lymphocytes are selectively upregulated in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis
Author(s) -
Nielsen Henrik,
Petersen Ane Ahm,
SkjøDt Henrik,
HøRslevPetersen Kim,
Bendtzen Klaus
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
apmis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.909
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1600-0463
pISSN - 0903-4641
DOI - 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1999.tb01518.x
Subject(s) - integrin alpha m , rheumatoid arthritis , flow cytometry , immunology , cd14 , medicine , arthritis , endocrinology
The adhesion molecules CD11b (a β2‐integrin component) and CD54 (ICAM‐1) on blood leukocytes were studied by flow cytometry in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The fractions of CD4+ cells co‐expressing CD11b were elevated in 16 patients with active RA compared with those in 16 RA patients who improved during therapy and 8 healthy controls: 0.8±0.12% (mean±M) versus 0.3±0.06% (p<0.002) and 0.3±0.06% (p<0.005), respectively. Increased levels of CD1 1b+CD45R0+ cells were observed in patients with active RA compared to those with improved RA and controls: 12.6±3.9% versus 4.8±2.7% (p<0.002) and 6.1±1.2% (p<0.003), respectively. Disease activity, determined by C‐reactive protein, correlated with the numbers of CD11b+CD45R0+ cells: r=0.62 (p<0.001). Seven patients were followed during induction of remission with methotrexate and glucocorticoids. The numbers of CD11b+CD4+ and CD11b+CD45R0+ cells fell significantly after clinical improvement. The levels of CD11b+CD14+ cells (monocytes) did not differ between the groups. The number of CD11b+CD15+ cells (neutrophils) was elevated in patients with RA irrespective of disease activity. The levels of CD54+ cells were not different between the RA and control groups. We conclude that the increased numbers of CD11b+ memory T cells may arise from exposure to stimuli outside the synovial compartment.