MONOCYTE FUNCTION IN RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 9  (1) , 17-23
Abstract
Monocytes derived from peripheral blood of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) had a marked defect in their bactericidal activity against Staphylococcus albus [S. aureus] and Listeria monocytogenes, whereas the phagocytic capacity of monocytes from RA patients for S. albus and Shigella flexneri was similar to that of monocytes from healthy subjects. There were no significant differences between the patient and control groups with regard to antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) of monocyte against antibody-coated EL4 [mouse] leukemia tumor cells. No correlation was observed between the rheumatoid factor (RF) titer in the serum of RA patients and the ADCC capacity of their monocytes. The ADCC of normal monocytes was reduced markedly following their incubation with serum from RA patients. The defect in bactericidal activity in monocytes from RA patients may explain the susceptibility of RA patients to infections.

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