Peripheral blood and synovial fluid monocyte expression of interleukin 1 alpha and 1 beta during active rheumatoid arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the mononuclear cell (MNC) types from peripheral blood (PB) and synovial fluid (SF) of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) expressing interleukin-1 beta and -1 alpha (IL-1 beta, IL-1 alpha).


METHODS
PB and SF MNC from 16 patients with classical or definite RA and controls were analyzed by flow cytometry for IL-1 beta and IL-1 alpha staining.


RESULTS
MNC from normal individuals do not stain for either IL-1 beta or IL-1 alpha. By contrast, PB and SF CD14+ monocytes from patients with active RA show significant staining for surface and intracellular IL-1 beta and IL-1 alpha. Furthermore, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) correlates with the surface expression of IL-1 alpha (r = 0.52, p < 0.05) while the number of active joints (i.e., tender and/or swollen) correlate with the intracellular expression of IL-1 beta (r = 0.58, p < 0.03) in CD14+ monocytes.


CONCLUSIONS
The analysis of IL-1 beta and IL-1 alpha expression on CD14+ monocytes from peripheral blood by flow cytometry could be a potential immunological marker of disease activity in RA and its variation could be used to monitor the effects of therapy.
Chikanza
I C
IC
Rheumatology Unit, United Medical School, Guy's Hospital, London, UK.
Kingsley
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G
Panayi
G S
GS
D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000032:analysis; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001773:Blood Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors; D008297:Male; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D012016:Reference Values; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D007375:Interleukin-1; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors