To study Fibrocytes in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis, Interstitial lung disease and severe asthma and healthy controls.

Objectives: 1) To demonstrate that circulating CD45+ CD34+ CD11b+ cells can express Procollagen 1 and thereby show that these markers can be used to identify circulating fibrocytes. 2) To measure the levels of circulating CD45+, CD34+, CD11b+ cells in patients with RA, Fibrotic ILDs, severe asthma and in healthy controls (HC). 3) To compare the levels with number of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) that differentiate to mature fibrocytes in vitro.

Method: The CD45+, CD34+, CD11b+ cells from 4 patients were isolated by cell sorting, and stained for Procollagen. 30 patients (10 of each RA, fibrotic ILDs: IPF or non-specific interstitial pneumonitis (NSIP), severe asthma) and 10 HC were included. Current medication, disease activity, lung function and radiographic data were collected. In 100 µL of lysed blood cells were enumerated by flowcytometry. Further, PBMC were isolated and cultured for 5 days. Coverslips from two wells were stained and mature fibrocytes counted and reported as fibrocytes per 106 PBMC originally added to the well.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 10 patient with rheumatoid arthritis.
• 10 patient with rheumatoid arthritis and interstitial lung disease
• 10 patients with interstitial lung disease (idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis or nonspecific interstitial pneumonia)
• 10 patients with asthma
• 10 healthy volunteers

Exclusion Criteria:

• Unable to sign written informed consent to participate in the study.