Suppression of Phagocytic Activity Leads to the Efficient Surface Modification of Macrophages with Liposomes for Developing a Biomimetic Drug Delivery System.

Macrophages selectively infiltrate the lesion sites of several diseases, including cancers, and, thus, have attracted attention as a biomimetic drug delivery carrier. To achieve the efficient drug loading of macrophages with minimal cytotoxicity, drugs are preferably encapsulated into nanoparticles, such as liposomes, and modified on the surface of macrophages rather than being incorporated into cells. However, liposomes are rapidly taken up by macrophages after binding to the cell surface because of their strong phagocytic activity.

Serum β2-microglobulin level is a useful indicator of disease activity and hemophagocytic syndrome complication in systemic lupus erythematosus and adult-onset Still's disease.

This study demonstrates whether serum β2-microglobulin (β2-MG) level can be an indicator of the status of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD), and development of hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) complication. Serum β2-MG level was compared between the active and inactive statuses of SLE and AOSD in hospitalized patients. Active status was defined as a state for which a therapy was introduced.