Research Article

Effect of Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitor Therapy on Osteoclasts Precursors in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Table 3

Whole blood cell distribution and RANKL expression.

BaselineFollow-up value

Neutrophils (%)82 [71–91]90 [84–091]0.2662
Neutrophils (×108 cells/L)12.7 [8.0–15.6]9.6 [8.4–12.9]0.2642
RANKL+ neutrophils (%)22 [3–41]53 [21–77]0.0856
RANKL+ neutrophils (×108 cells/L)1.5 [0.3–4.3]5.9 [1.8–7.1]0.1475
Neutrophil RANKL MFI33.2 [25.5–44.9]24.1 [21.7–28]0.0830

T-cells (%)62 [58–74]68 [52–72]0.5265
T-cells (×108 cells/L)4.2 [2.4–5.2]3.4 [2.4–11.7]0.4131
RANKL+ T-cells (%)6.2 [0.8–24]6.7 [4.6–15.7]0.8984
RANKL+ T-cells (×108 cells/L)0.30 [0.03–1.03]0.20 [0.16–0.69]0.7646
T-cell RANKL MFI49 [41–55]32 [25–53]0.2061

B-cells (%)7.3 [4.8–14]9.2 [4.9–15.0]0.7364
B-cells (×108 cells/L)0.40 [0.18–0.94]0.44 [0.23–1.51]0.9658
RANKL+ B-cells (%)4.7 [2.0–6.7]14 [3–28]
RANKL+ B-cells (×108 cells/L)0.02 [0.01–0.06]0.06 [0.02–1.22]
B-cell RANKL MFI48 [38–80]30 [25–63]

Flow cytometry results are shown as median and interquartile range; on granulocytes from whole blood; on the correspondent parent gate (neutrophil, T- or B-cell); on the nongranulocyte cells from whole blood (also called the “monolymph” gate). RANKL: receptor activator of NF-κβ ligand; MFI: median fluorescence intensity (arbitrary units); , . Remained significant after correction for multiple comparisons.