Expression and significance of CD14~+CD16~+ monocytes in peripheral blood in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Objective To investigate the expression and significance of CD14+CD16+ monocytes in peripheral blood in patients with rheumatoid arthritis(RA).Methods Peripheral blood samples were taken in 45 RA patients(group A,active RA,group B,stable RA) and 25 healthy people(group C) for determing the proportion of CD14+CD16+ by flow cytomety and detecting serum levels of interleukin(IL)-1β,IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α by ELISA,respectively.Results The percentage of CD14+CD16+ monocytes and serum levels of IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-α were higher in group A than those in group B (P0.01),which were higher in groups of A and B than those in group C(P0.01).Serum levels of IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-α were positively correlated with the percentage of CD14+CD16+ monocytes.Conclusion There are increased serum level of IL-1β,IL-6,TNF-α and CD14+CD16+ monocytes in RA patients,which related to RA activity.