A higher frequency of peripheral blood activated B cells in patients with non-traumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head

Objectives: B cells play important roles in inflammatory diseases. This study was aimed at examining the frequency of different subsets of B cells in patients with non-traumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head (NONFH). Methods: The percentages of the different subsets of circulating B cells in 28 patients with steroid-related, alcohol-related, or idiopathic NONFH and 10 healthy controls (HC) were examined by flow cytometry. The concentrations of serum C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen (FIB), immunoglobulins, cytokines and blood erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESP) were measured. Results: In comparison with those in the HC, significantly higher percentages of CD27-, CD86 +, CD95 +, and CD27 + CD95 + CD19 + but lower CD27 + CD19 + B cells were detected in the patients. The percentages of CD86 +, CD95 +, and CD27 + CD95 + CD19 + B cells in each group of the patients were significantly higher than those in the HC. The levels of serum IL-17A and IFN-gamma in steroid group and serum TNF-alpha in alcoholic group were significantly higher than those in the HC. The percentages of CD86 + CD19 + B cells were positively associated with the degrees of femoral head collapse in both steroid and alcoholic groups of patients and the levels of serum TNF-alpha were positively associated with the degrees of femoral head collapse in the alcoholic NONFH patients. Conclusions: These data suggest a higher frequency of CD86 + CD19 + activated B cells and elevated levels of serum TNF-alpha may be associated with the development of NONFH. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.