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Lookup NU author(s): Professor John IsaacsORCiD
Objective: The expression of Fc gamma RIIIa/CD16 may render monocytes targets for activation by IgG-containing immune complexes (IC). We investigated whether Fc gamma RIIIa/CD16 was upregulated in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), associated with TNF production in response to IC-stimulation, and if this predicted response to methotrexate therapy. Methods: Fc gamma RIIIa/CD16 expression on CD14(low) and CD14(++) monocytes was measured by flow cytometry in healthy controls and RA patients (early and long-standing disease). Intracellular TNF-staining was carried out after in vitro LPS or heat-aggregated immunoglobulin (HAG) activation. Fc gamma RIIIa/CD16 expression pre- and post-steroid/methotrexate treatment was examined. Results: Increased Fc gamma RIIIa/CD16 expression on CD14(++) monocytes in long-standing RA patients compared to controls was demonstrated (p = 0.002) with intermediate levels in early-RA patients. HAG-induced TNF-production in RA patients was correlated with the percentage of CD14(++) monocytes expressing Fc gamma RIIIa/CD16 (p<0.001). The percentage of CD14(++) monocytes expressing Fc gamma RIIIa/CD16 at baseline in early DMARD-naive RA patients was negatively correlated with DAS28-ESR improvement 14-weeks post-methotrexate therapy (p = 0.003) and was significantly increased in EULAR non-responders compared to moderate (p = 0.01) or good responders (p = 0.003). Fc gamma RIIIa/CD16 expression was not correlated with age, presence of systemic inflammation or autoantibody titers. Conclusion: Increased Fc gamma RIIIa/CD16 expression on CD14(++) monocytes in RA may result in a cell that has increased responsiveness to IC-stimulation. This monocyte subset may contribute to non-response to methotrexate therapy.
Author(s): Cooper DL, Martin SG, Robinson JI, Mackie SL, Charles CJ, Nam J, Isaacs JD, Emery P, Morgan AW, YEAR Consortium
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: PLoS One
Year: 2012
Volume: 7
Issue: 1
Print publication date: 01/01/2012
Date deposited: 22/05/2012
ISSN (electronic): 1932-6203
Publisher: Public Library of Science
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0028918
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0028918
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