Identification of a Distinct Monocyte‐Driven Signature in Systemic Sclerosis Using Biophysical Phenotyping of Circulating Immune Cells
Authors' conclusion
Changes in the biophysical properties of circulating immune cells reflect their pathologic activation in SSc patients and are associated with clinical outcomes.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV) and age- and sex-matched healthy donors
- Participants
- 63 / 59 / 28 / 22
- Exposure
- SSc vs RA, AAV and healthy donors
- SScn = 63
- RAn = 59
- AAVn = 28
- Healthy donorsn = 22reference
- Outcome
- Biophysical properties (cell mechanics and morphology) of circulating immune cells by RT-FDC
Methodological detailsage- and sex-matched healthy donors, real-time fluorescence and deformability cytometry (RT-FDC) biophysical phenotyping
- Age- and sex-matched healthy donors
- RT-FDC biophysical phenotyping
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Biophysical signature of circulating immune cells
- Specific signature of biophysical properties of circulating immune cells in SSc, mainly driven by monocytes
- Signature absent in RA and AAV, reflecting SSc-specific monocyte activation rather than general inflammation
- Monocyte biophysical properties indicate current disease activity, extent of skin or lung fibrosis, severity of microvascular damage and risk of disease progression in SSc
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Original publication
Identification of a Distinct Monocyte‐Driven Signature in Systemic Sclerosis Using Biophysical Phenotyping of Circulating Immune Cells. Arthritis Rheumatol. Published 20 March 2023. doi:10.
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