Up-regulated expression of CD86 on circulating intermediate monocytes correlated with disease severity in psoriasis

Monocytes are the cornerstones of the immune system and critical drivers of inflammatory reactions [1]. The monocyte family has been classified into three subsets according to the expression of CD14 and CD16. Based on this nomenclature, approximately 90% of human monocytes express high levels of CD14, but not CD16, and have been categorized as "classical monocytes" (CD14++CD16−). Two minor populations constitute the remaining 10%, and include "intermediate monocytes" (CD14++CD16+) and "non-classical monocytes" (CD14+CD16++) [2].