Distinct bone marrow precursors for mononuclear phagocytes expressing high and low 5′ ‐nucleotidase activity

Abstract

AbstractUsing a cytochemical assay we were able to show that the peritoneal macrophage population of normal nontreated mice (resident peritoneal macrophages) exhibits a heterogeneity with regard to the expression of the activity of the ecto‐enzyme 5′‐nucleotidase (5′‐N). About 75% of the macrophages express high enzymic activity whereas the remaining 25% express low 5′‐N activity. Macrophages accumulating in the peritoneum as a result of an inflammatory response are predominantly of the low activity type. In vitro activation of resident peritoneal macrophages by lymphokines does not result in a decrease in the number of macrophages expressing high enzymic activity though the level of the enzymic activity of these cells is reduced by about 36%. Bone marrow derived mononuclear phagocyte colonies developing in vitro, under liquid culture conditions, from bone marrows of normal mice can be divided into three types with respect to their expression of 5′‐N activity: (1) high activity colonies–relatively small colonies in which all the cells express high 5′‐N activity (about 20% of the colonies); (2) low activity colonies – relatively large colonies in which all the cells express low 5′‐N activity (about 70% of the colonies); and (3) mixed colonies–relatively large colonies in which all the cells express low enzymic activity except for about 8% of cells located at the periphery of the colonies which express high enzymic activity (about 10% of the colonies). During an inflammatory response the frequency of the high activity colonies is significantly reduced. Our results provide evidence for distinct bone marrow precursors for mononuclear phagocytes expressing high and low 5′‐N activity and suggest that (1) the resident macrophages derive from a subpopulation of bone marrow precursor cells developing in vitro into high 5′‐N activity mononuclear phagocytes, and (2) during an inflammatory response there is a preferential expansion of clones of the low enzymic activity phenotype.