FC GAMMA RECEPTOR AND RANK EXPRESSION ON PERIPHERAL BLOOD MONOCYTES IN ATHLETIC PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Abstract

Objective To investigate Fcγ receptors (FcγRs) expression on peripheral blood monocytes and RANK expression on monocyte subsets from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) athletic patients versus healthy controls (HC). Methods Thirty-two athletic patients with RA and twenty HC were enrolled in this study. FcγRI /CD64, FcγRII /CD32 and FcγRIII/CD16 expression on peripheral monocytes, proportions of each monocyte subset and RANK expression on each monocyte subset were determined by flow cytometry. Associations among frequencies of CD14⁺CD64⁺, CD14⁺CD32⁺, CD14^brightCD16^–, CD14^brightCD16⁺, CD14^dimCD16⁺ monocytes, RANK expression on each monocyte subset with clinical variables were examined by Spearman’s correlation coefficients in athletic patients. Results Frequencies of FcγRI expression on peripheral blood monocytes were significantly increased in athletic patients compared with HC (54.00% ± 12.75%, 15.48% ± 4.98%, P = 0.006). No significant associations were determined among the proportions of FcγRI, FcγRII expressing peripheral monocytes, frequencies of each monocyte subset with clinical variables in athletic patients (P > 0.05). The proportion of RANK expressing CD14^brightCD16^– classical monocyte subset was significantly correlated with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) in athletic patients with RA (P = 0.041, correlation coefficient = 0.686). Conclusions Inflammation in RA may contribute to the increased frequencies of FcγRI/CD64 on peripheral blood monocytes in athletic patients with RA. CD14^brightCD16^– classical monocytes may be the circulating precursors for osteoclasts in RA.