Enhanced frequencies of CD14++CD16+, but not CD14+CD16+, peripheral blood monocytes in severe asthmatic patients

• Published in: Clinical immunology (Orlando, Fla.) Fla.), 2009-03, Vol.130 (3), p.338-346
• Main Authors: Moniuszko, Marcin, Bodzenta-Lukaszyk, Anna, Kowal, Krzysztof, Lenczewska, Danuta, Dabrowska, Milena
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Allergy and Immunology; Antigens, CD - metabolism; Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic - metabolism; Asthma; Asthma - immunology; Biological and medical sciences; CD14++CD16+ monocytes; Female; Flow Cytometry; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; Gene Expression Regulation - drug effects; Glucocorticoids - pharmacology; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Leukocytes, Mononuclear - drug effects; Leukocytes, Mononuclear - immunology; Lipopolysaccharide Receptors - immunology; Male; Methylprednisolone - pharmacology; Middle Aged; Monocyte subsets; Nitric Oxide - analysis; Receptors, Cell Surface - metabolism; Receptors, IgG - immunology; Severe asthma; Severity of Illness Index
• ISSN: 1521-6616; 1521-7035
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2008.09.011

Abstract CD16+ monocytes are expanded in various inflammatory conditions. Recently it was reported that CD16+ monocytes can be divided into two subsets with contrasting potential of modulating inflammatory responses, namely CD14++CD16+ and CD14+CD16+ monocytes. Here, we characterized and quantified CD14++CD16+ and CD14+CD16+ monocyte subsets in asthmatic patients in the context of severity of disease and different treatment options. Subjects included seventeen severe asthmatics and eighteen moderate asthmatics treated with moderate-to-high doses of inhaled glucocorticosteroids (GCS), twenty nine steroid-naive mild asthmatics and fifteen healthy controls. First, we demonstrated that CD14++CD16+ monocytes, in contrast to CD14+CD16+ monocytes, present significantly higher expression of anti-inflammatory molecule CD163. The frequency of CD14++CD16+, but not CD14+CD16+ monocytes, was significantly higher in patients with severe asthma as compared to mild and moderate asthmatics. However, the frequency of both CD16+ monocyte subsets did not correlate directly with exhaled nitric oxide levels. Short-term administration of oral GCS in patients with exacerbations resulted in a preferential decrease of CD14+CD16+ monocytes. Our study indicates that CD14++CD16+ and CD14+CD16+ monocyte subsets in asthmatics are differentially modulated by both the inflammatory process and GCS treatment.