摘要：

Recently, in vitro studies have demonstrated that expression of FcR2/CD23 on normal monocytes can be specifically induced by IL-4. In order to investigate the interaction of IL-4 and monocytes in rheumatic diseases, flow cytometry studies were performed. Elevated numbers of circulating FcR2/ CD23 + monocytes were detected in patients with progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) as compared with controls, in addition, supernatants derived from phytohaemagglutinin-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells of PSS patients contained high activity to induce FcR2/CD23 on CDI4+ monocytes. An increased frequency of FcR2/CD23 + monocytes was also observed in rheumatoid arthritis, and sequential studies in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus showed a close relationship between FcR2/CD23 + monocytes and disease activity. It is suggested that IL-4 has an important role in the pathogenesis of PSS by activating monocytes, and might also contribute to monocyte activation in other rheumatic diseases.

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