Expressão aumentada do receptor Fc de IgA (CD89) e da cadeia g associada, avaliadas respectivamente por citometria de fluxo e por “immunobloting", foram encontradas em fagócitos do sangue de pacientes com bacteremia por germes gram-negativos, em comparação com controles e pacientes com bacteremia por gram-positivos. A Mr do CD89 avaliada por SDS-PAGE estava diminuída, com núcleo protéico de 32kDa, sugerindo alteração de glicosilação. O aumento da expressão do CD89 correlacionou-se com aumento dos níveis séricos de IL-6. A cadeia g estava fosforilada nos neutrófilos, sugerindo participação do CD89 na sepsis por gram-negativos.

The expression and function of FcaRI (CD89) were analyzed on blood monocytes and neutrophils of patients with gram-positive and gram-negative bacteremia. Eighteen patients with gram-positive bacteremia, sixteen patients with gram-negative bacteremia and twenty healthy individuals were studied. CD89 expression were analyzed by flow cytometry using specific stained antibodies. Analysis of the surface iodinated CD89 molecules by SDS-PAGE and of the CD89 g-associated chain by immunoblotting also were performed. A marked increase in expression of the a and g subunits of the FcaRI were found on both types of cells in patients with gram-negative bacteremia, but not in patients with gram-positive bacteremia. This increase was independent of serum IgA levels. FcaRI Mr was lower on cells from gram negative patients than on cells from controls (50-65 kDa vs 55-75 kDa) despite of similar 32 kDa backbone, indicating altered glycosylation. Increased levels of FcaRI on blood phagocytes correlated with enhanced serum IL-6 levels, but not with IFN-g or TNF-a levels. The CD89 g-associated chain was phosphorylated on neutrophils, suggesting an engagement of CD89 during gram negative sepsis.