Analysis of Antigenic Determinants on Human Monocytes and Macrophages

Abstract

Mo1, 2, 3, and 4, and Plt-1 are a series of five distinct antigens detected on the surface of human peripheral blood monocytes by mouse monoclonal antibodies. Mo2 and 3 are restricted to the monocyte-macrophage series, while Mo1, as previously reported, is also expressed by human granulocytes and null cells. Mo3, as distinguished from Mo1 and Mo2, is weakly expressed by virgin peripheral blood monocytes but becomes well expressed if monocytes are cultured overnight at 37 degrees C. Mo4 is coexpressed by monocytes and platelets, while Plt-1 appears to be a platelet-specific antigen whose detection on monocytes reflects adherence of platelets to monocyte membranes. That Mo2-4 are true monocyte antigens is demonstrated by their resynthesis following protease treatment of monocytes (Mol expression is resistant to proteolytic digestion). During myeloid-monocyte differentiation, the Mo antigens are infrequently expressed by immature myeloid cells but are found at higher frequency on leukemic monocytic forms. Macrophages from cultured peripheral blood monocytes and HL-60 cells exposed to lymphokines or phorbol diester express Mo1-4, but noncirculating peritoneal macrophages lack Mo3. The Mo antigens are differentiation markers whose expression reflects membrane heterogeneity during myeloid-monocyte-macrophage maturation.