The CD14+CD16+ monocytes in erysipelas are expanded and show reduced cytokine production.
In human peripheral blood the classical CD14(++)DR(+) monocytes and the pro-inflammatory CD14(+)CD16(+)DR(++) monocytes can be distinguished. In erysipelas we found strongly increased numbers of CD14(+)CD16(+) monocytes on the day of diagnosis (day 1) in 11 patients with an average of 150.5+/-76.0 cells/microl, while 1 patient had low levels (35 cells/microl, control donors 48.8+/-19.8 cells/microl). The classical monocytes were only moderately elevated in the erysipelas patients (factor 1.7 as compared to controls). Patients exhibited increased body temperature, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and increased serum levels for C-reactive protein (CRP), IL-6 and macrophage-colony-stimulating factor. Among these, body temperature and CRP showed a significant correlation to the numbers of CD14(+)CD16(+) monocytes. In 4 of 4 patients with high levels of CD14(+)CD16(+) monocytes, these levels returned to that seen in controls by day 5 of antibiotic therapy. Determination of intracellular TNF was performed by three-color immunofluorescence and flow cytometry after ex vivo stimulation with lipoteichoic acid, a typical constituent of streptococci. Here, patient CD14(+)DR(++) pro-inflammatory monocytes showed a twofold lower level of intracellular TNF. By contrast, expression of TNF was unaltered in the classical CD14(++) monocytes. These data show that in erysipelas the pro-inflammatory CD14(+)CD16(+)DR(++) monocytes are substantially expanded and selectively tolerant to stimulation by streptococcal products.
Horelt
Alexia
A
Institute for Immunology, University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
Belge
Kai-Uwe
KU
Steppich
Birgit
B
Prinz
Jörg
J
Ziegler-Heitbrock
Löms
L
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004886:Erysipelas / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000097:blood; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D017452:Receptors, IgG / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D015850:Interleukin-6; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors; D017452:Receptors, IgG; D016753:Interleukin-10; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; D007371:Interferon-gamma