Expression of Macrophage Scavenger Receptor (MSR1) in Peripheral Blood Cells from Patients with Different Respiratory Diseases: Beyond Monocytes.

BACKGROUND

Macrophage scavenger receptor 1 (MSR1) has mostly been described in macrophages, but we previously found a significant gene expression increase in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of asthmatic patients.

OBJECTIVE

To confirm those results and to define its cellular origin in PBMCs.

METHODS

Four groups of subjects were studied: healthy controls (C), nonallergic asthmatic (NA), allergic asthmatic (AA), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. RNA was extracted from PBMCs. MSR1 gene expression was analyzed by RT-qPCR. The presence of MSR1 on the cellular surface of PBMC cellular subtypes was analyzed by confocal microscopy and flow cytometry.

RESULTS

MSR1 gene expression was significantly increased in the three clinical conditions compared to the healthy control group, with substantial variations according to disease type and severity. MSR1 expression on T cells (CD4 and CD8), B cells, and monocytes was confirmed by confocal microscopy and flow cytometry. In all clinical groups, the four immune cell subtypes studied expressed MSR1, with a greater expression on B lymphocytes and monocytes, exhibiting differences according to disease and severity.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first description of MSR1's presence on lymphocytes' surfaces and reinforces the potential role of MSR1 as a player in asthma and COPD.