Rheumatoid arthritis CD14 monocytes display metabolic and inflammatory dysfunction, a phenotype that precedes clinical manifestation of disease.

Introduction: This study investigates the metabolic activity of circulating monocytes and their impact on pro-inflammatory responses in RA and explores whether this phenotype is already primed for inflammation before clinical manifestations of disease.

Methods: Blood was collected and CD14 monocytes isolated from healthy control donors (HC), individuals at-risk (IAR) and RA patients. Monocyte frequency in blood and synovial tissue was assessed by flow cytometry.