sCD163 in AOSD: a biomarker for macrophage activation related to hyperferritinemia

Immunol Res. 2014 Dec;60(2-3):177-83. doi: 10.1007/s12026-014-8563-7.

Abstract

Ferritin has a key role in Adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD). Its production seems related to macrophage activation of which sCD163 is a major serum marker. Thus, we aimed at evaluating the role of sCD163 in AOSD and its relationship with ferritin. Furthermore, we determined the expression of CD163 and ferritin in a lymph-node from an AOSD patient. sCD163 and serum ferritin were measured in 34 patients with AOSD (21 active, 13 non-active), 18 sepsis and 22 healthy controls (HC). Immunohistology was performed on a lymph-node from an AOSD patient in order to detect CD163 and ferritin. A tonsil from an HC was used as control. Mean sCD163 (8.6 ± 5.4 mg/L) was higher in active AOSD than "non-active" patients (4.6 ± 2.7 mg/L, p = 0.02). The mean sCD163 in AOSD (6.9 ± 4.9 mg/L) and sepsis (7.1 ± 5.6 mg/L) were higher than in HC (2.56 ± 1.17 mg/L, p < 0.001), but no difference between AOSD and sepsis was detected. sCD163 positively correlated with ferritin (p = 0.0045; r = 0.4755) only in AOSD. Serum ferritin (mean 3,640.1 ± 6,896.9 µg/L) was higher in active AOSD than in sepsis (1,720.2 ± 3,882.1 µg/L, p < 0.007). CD163 was equally distributed in the B and T areas of both lymph-node and tonsil. Differently from the tonsil, ferritin was expressed only in the lymph-node B area. sCD163 is a marker of disease activity in AOSD. The correlation with ferritin may lead to hypothesize a macrophage activation related to hyperferritinemia. Ferritin was found expressed only in the B area of the AOSD lymph-node, suggesting a role for this molecule as an antigen in the disease pathogenesis.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antigens, CD / blood*
  • Antigens, CD / immunology*
  • Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / blood*
  • Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / immunology*
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Female
  • Ferritins / blood
  • Humans
  • Lymph Nodes / immunology
  • Lymph Nodes / metabolism
  • Lymph Nodes / pathology
  • Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Macrophage Activation / immunology
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Palatine Tonsil / immunology
  • Palatine Tonsil / metabolism
  • Palatine Tonsil / pathology
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / blood*
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / immunology*
  • Sepsis / complications
  • Still's Disease, Adult-Onset / blood*
  • Still's Disease, Adult-Onset / complications
  • Still's Disease, Adult-Onset / immunology*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic
  • Biomarkers
  • CD163 antigen
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Ferritins