Monocytes from patients with rheumatoid arthritis release increased amountof reactive oxygen intermediates

Respiratory burst mechanisms essential for the degradation of ingested comp lexes could contribute to the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by causing tissue injury, Monitoring the generation of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide blood monocytes from patients with RA reveals that these monocyte s on stimulation release a higher amount of reactive oxygen intermediates w hen compared to the release by normal macrophages. It shows that monocytes from RA patients have high oxidative burst capacity which is suggestive of an important role for these cells in the pathophysiology of RA.