[Detection and its clinical value of CCR5 and CCR7 in dendritic cells from patients with active rheumatoid arthritis].
OBJECTIVE
To detect the expressions of CCR5 and CCR7 on dendritic cells (DCs) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in different phases of disease activity, and explore the relationship between the disease activity and the expression of chemokine receptors.


METHODS
Twenty-eight patients with low, moderate and high disease activity and 10 normal control subjects were enrolled in this study. Peripheral blood was obtained from the subjects and the DCs were isolated. The expression of CCR5 and CCR7 on DCs were detected by flow cytometry, and the serum levels of rheumatoid factor (RF), C-reactive protein (CRP) and anti-CCP antibody (ACPA) were assessed. The correlation of the expressions of CCR5 and CCR7 to serum RF, CRP, and ACPA levels of the RA patients were analyzed.


RESULTS
Compared to the normal control group, RA patients showed enhanced expressions of CCR5 and CCR7 on the DCs. A linear correlation was noted between CCR5 and CCR7 expressions on the DCs and the serum levels of RF and CRP, but not ACPA, in the RA patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The expressions of CCR5 and CCR7 on the DCs may correlate to the disease activity of RA, and may serve as valuable indices in monitoring the disease activity and the efficacy of the treatment.
Pang
Jie
J
Department of Rheumatology and Nephrology, Zhongshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhongshan 528400, China.
Yu
Ke-qiang
KQ
D000328:Adult; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019713:Receptors, CCR5 / Q000378:metabolism*; D054400:Receptors, CCR7 / Q000378:metabolism*
C515370:CCR7 protein, human; D019713:Receptors, CCR5; D054400:Receptors, CCR7