Study of CD14+ and CD16+ peripheral blood monocytes in asthmatic patients

ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the enhanced frequencies of CD14++ CD16 + peripheral blood monocytes in asthmatic patients.BackgroundCD16 + monocytes are increased in inflammatory conditions. It was reported that CD16 + monocytes can be divided into two subsets with different potential of modulating inflammatory responses: CD14++ CD16 + and CD14 + CD16 + monocytes. CD14++ CD16 + and CD14 + CD16 + monocyte subsets are quantified in asthmatic patients regarding severity of disease and glucocorticoids treatment options.Patients and methodsCD14++ CD16 + was examined in 20 cases of completely controlled asthma, 20 cases of partly controlled asthma, 20 cases of uncontrolled asthma, and 25 healthy controls using flow cytometry.ResultsThe results showed highly significant difference among the controlled asthma, partly controlled asthma, uncontrolled asthma, and control groups regarding pulmonary function tests and also showed highly significant difference among controlled asthma, partly controlled asthma, uncontrolled asthma, and control groups regarding percentage of CD14++ CD16 + cells. Moreover, the results showed highly significant correlation between CD14++ CD16 + cells and percentage of forced expiratory volume in 1 s, forced expiratory volume in 1 s/forced vital capacity, C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, immunoglobulin E, neutrophils, and eosinophils (laboratory investigations) of controlled asthma, partly controlled asthma, uncontrolled asthma, and control groups.ConclusionCD14++ CD16 + monocytes showed the highest levels of expression in uncontrolled asthmatic cases as compared with other monocyte subsets. CD14++ CD16 + monocytes showed higher levels of expression in uncontrolled asthma cases than other asthmatic cases.