Abstract

ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND:
Abnormal lymphocyte activation status have been described in rheumatoid arthritis. Suggesting an increased need for iron as a source of energy.
OBJECTIVE:
To evaluate the cellularexpression pattern ofTransferrin receptor(CD71)proteinin the peripheral blood lymphocytes,
PATIENTS &METHODS:
This study involved forty-six rheumatoid arthritis patients 42 female and 4 male, age ranged from 25-66 years collected from AL-Kadhemia teaching hospital were examined and compared with 17 healthy control individuals of similar ages. Lymphocytes were separated from peripheral blood samples,the assessment of their cellular expression of cluster of differentiation 3 and CD71by immunofluorescent staining method.
RESULTS:
The results showed abundant accumulation of CD3 T lymphocytes in the peripheral circulation of rheumatoid arthritispatients in comparison with controls with increased transferrin receptor expression in rheumatoid arthritisgroup (p<0.001).Furthermore,the diffuse pattern was not significant (0.280), lower percentage of intercellular pattern among RA patients (21.31±16.23) than controls (45.43±12.95) with highly statistical significant difference (p<0.001). While, membranous pattern was higher among RA patients (51.22±28.43) than controls (23.77±18.57) with highly statistical significant difference (<0.001).
CONCLUSION:
This study demonstrate increased expression in CD71 with membranous expression pattern amongrheumatoid arthritis patientsthan thatcontrols, suggesting its important role in up taking transferrin from blood as a source for energy.
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