title: Blood monocytes of untreated asthmatics exhibit some features of tissue macrophages.
abstract: Airway macrophages are activated in asthmatic subjects. Peripheral blood monocytes from these subjects present some functional features of activation, but their membrane markers are not known. Recently a new subtype of blood monocytes, CD14+/CD16+, has been identified which possesses the characteristics of tissue macrophages. A study was carried out on nine normal subjects and 11 untreated asthmatics having variable severities of the disease to examine the phenotypic characteristics of monocytes. CD14, CD16, HLA-DR, CD11a, CD11b, CD44 and CD54 were studied using double fluorescence flow cytometry since these antigens have been defined in the CD14+/CD16+ monocytes. The functional activation of monocytes was examined using the release of superoxide anion. The co-expression of CD14 and CD16 by monocytes in terms of percentage and mean fluorescence intensity was significantly higher in asthmatics (P < 0.002 and P < 0.0001, respectively, Mann-Whitney U-test). There was no difference for the other membrane markers between asthmatics and normal subjects. Superoxide anion release was significantly increased in asthmatic subjects (P < 0.01). This study shows that most blood monocytes of asthmatics are CD14+/CD16+ and are likely to present features of tissue macrophages.
authors.affiliation: Clinique des Maladies Respiratoires, Hôpital Arnaud de Villeneuve, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rivier
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pène
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rabesandratana
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chanez
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bousquet
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Campbell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000378:metabolism; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood*; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors; D008262:Macrophage Activation; D008264:Macrophages / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D017452:Receptors, IgG / Q000378:metabolism; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors; D017452:Receptors, IgG; D013481:Superoxides