High CD163 Expression on Classical Monocytes Is Associated with Immune Control of HBV Infection in Noncirrhotic Patients

Background and Aims. The functional impairment of monocytes may contribute to the persistence of HBV infection. This study aims to assess monocyte subpopulations, monocyte expression of CD163, plasma sCD163, and sTWEAK in patients with chronic HBeAg-negative HBV infection at different phases of disease. Methods. Fifty-nine patients with CHB, 9 with a history of HBsAg/anti-HBs seroconversion, were enrolled. The control group consisted of 15 healthy volunteers. Subpopulations of peripheral blood monocytes were distinguished by CD14 and CD16. Membrane expression of CD163 was assessed by flow cytometry, plasma sCD163 concentration by ELISA, and sTWEAK by bead-based multiplexed immunoassay system. Results. CD163 expression was increased in classical and intermediate monocytes in CHB patients and those with HBsAg/anti-HBs seroconversion. CD163 expression on classical monocytes was associated with status of immune control and thus significant in HBV infection as compared to active hepatitis. Plasma sCD163 concentration was increased in CHB patients and those with HBsAg/anti-HBs seroconversion vs. the control group. Positive correlations between plasma sCD163 and ALT, as well as APRI, were observed. Plasma sTWEAK concentration was lower in CHB patients in comparison to patients with HBsAg/anti-HBs seroconversion. Conclusions. Exposure to HBV antigens alters monocyte subsets’ frequencies and activation. The expression of CD163 on classical monocytes increased in parallel with improved immune control of the HBV infection. Patients who seroconverted HBsAg had the highest expression of CD163 on monocytes, which suggests involvement of monocytes in immune control of HBV infection. Persistent inflammation is accompanied by higher CD163 expression and sCD163 level and lower sTWEAK level.

Palisaded Neutrophilic and Granulomatous Dermatitis in a Patient with Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis

Palisaded neutrophilic and granulomatous dermatitis (PNGD) shows various clinical features and is histologically characterized by palisaded granulomas surrounding degenerated collagen. PNGD is known to be associated with a variety of systemic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. Furthermore, PNGD has been reported to be associated with antineutrophilic cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis, including granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and microscopic polyangiitis. Here, we report a case of PNGD associated with GPA, which showed the infiltration of CD163-positive M2 macrophages in the skin lesion with elevated serum level of soluble CD163 (sCD163). The serum sCD163 level was reduced to normal range after systemic steroid therapy. Thus, M2 macrophages may play a role in the pathomechanisms of PNGD associated with GPA.

Serum biomarker CD163 predicts overall survival in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Background The serum soluble CD163 (sCD163) is elevated in patients with infection disease and several types of cancer. However, the prognostic value of serum sCD163 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has not yet been investigated. Methods Serum level of sCD163 was measured by using the peripheral blood of 54 patients with PDAC, 20 patients with benign tumor of pancreas, and 30 healthy volunteers (healthy controls). The association between serum sCD163 level and overall survival was analyzed. Receiver operating characteristics (ROCs) curves were generated, and areas under the curve (AUC) were compared to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy, including CA 19-9, CEA, CA 125, CA 153, serum sCD163 level and combination of sCD163 and CA19-9. Results Serum sCD163 level of patients with PDAC was significant higher than patients with benign tumor (p = 0.002) and health controls (p < 0.001). Using ROCs curves, we found that the AUC values of serum sCD163 were higher than those of CA 125 and CA 153, but lower than those of CA 19-9 and CEA. The combination of sCD163 and CA19-9 had higher diagnostic accuracy than CA19-9 or sCD163 alone. In addition, the prognosis of PDAC patients with sCD163 ≥ median was worse than sCD163 < median by using univariate analysis (p = 0.027). Further, multivariate analysis showed that higher level of serum sCD163 was still associated with poorer overall survival (p = 0.030). Serum sCD163 was not associated with tumoral CD163 expression, whereas negatively correlated with lymphocyte to monocyte ratio (r = -0.428, p = 0.001). Conclusion The serum sCD163 has the potential as a new promising parameter to predict the prognosis in PDAC patients.