CD11a-c/CD18 and GP84 (LB-2) adhesion molecules on human large granular lymphocytes and their participation in natural killing

Effect of mAb against the CD11a-c, CD18, and GP84 adhesion molecules on the binding and cytotoxicity of human NK cells was studied. The target cells were K562, MOLT-4, Raji, and fresh uncultured autologous endometrial carcinoma cells. Antibodies against adhesion relevant epitopes of CD11a(TA-1/LFA-1), CD11b(Mol/OKM1/Mac1), or CD11c (Leu-M5) did not inhibit NK function. The mAb 60.3 against CD18, the common beta-chain associated to CD11a-c, strongly inhibited both the binding and cytotoxicity of large granular lymphocytes (LGL) against all the target cells tested. Also the antibody LB-2 against the GP84 adhesion molecule inhibited NK function to some degree. 60.3 and LB-2 antibodies exerted an additive effect in the inhibition of both binding and cytotoxicity. However, even this antibody combination did not completely block NK activity, suggesting a heterogeneity of adhesion structures in the NK system. According to both FACS analyses and immunoprecipitation studies, all the tested antibodies recognized either a subpopulation or all of LGL. On the other hand, antibodies against CD11b, CD11c, and LB-2 showed only marginal reactivity with highly purified LGL-free T cells.     

Identification of a novel adhesion molecule in human leukocytes by monoclonal antibody LB-2

Monoclonal antibody LB-2 to a surface antigen on human B cells, lymphoblast, monocytes and vascular endothelial cells largely inhibited adhesion among Epstein Barr virus-immortalized normal B cells (EBV-B) and concanavalin A-stimulated blood mononuclear cells (Con A-BMC) before and after phorbol ester treatment. The antibody inhibited to a lesser extent phorbol ester-induced aggregation of monocytes, U937 cells and fresh BMC and had virtually no inhibitory effect on the adhesion among enriched T cells and granulocytes. A surface glycoprotein band of 84 kDa was obtained from EBV-B cells by immunoprecipitation and gel electrophoresis. Immunological and biochemical studies clearly distinguished this molecule from gp90 and associated glycoproteins which also mediate leukocyte adhesion.     

Human monocyte adherence to cultured vascular endothelium: monoclonal antibody-defined mechanisms

We have evaluated the binding of human peripheral blood monocytes to cultured vascular endothelium as an in vitro model of monocyte interaction with the vessel wall. Monocytes were purified (91% +/- 4 SE esterase positive) by elutriation to avoid contact with surfaces before assay. Adherence of 51Cr-labeled monocytes after 45 min (36% +/- 11 SE) was significantly higher than that observed with autologous radiolabeled neutrophils (9% +/- 5 SE) and was greater on monolayers of human umbilical vein endothelium than on bovine aortic endothelium. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells treated with monoclonal antibody (MoAb) 60.3, a reagent that binds leukocyte membrane complex CDw18, implicated in multiple adherence-dependent functions, failed to adhere and flatten on artificial surfaces. Mononuclear cells treated with MoAb 60.3 simulated cells from a patient with recurrent infections whose phagocytes failed to react with MoAb 60.3 and failed to emigrate to extravascular sites in vivo. Incubation of monocytes with MoAb 60.3 inhibited (by 32 to 61%) monocyte adherence to endothelium in a dose-dependent manner for periods up to 24 hr, but had negligible effects on basal (unstimulated) neutrophil adherence. Basal monocyte adherence in the presence of MoAb 60.3 remained significantly greater than basal neutrophil adherence. Augmentation of phagocyte adherence to endothelial monolayers by autologous plasma or phorbol ester (PMA) was abrogated by incubation with MoAb 60.3. Studies with immunofluorescence flow cytometry indicated that PMA stimulation of monocytes resulted in a specific 40% increase in monocyte surface expression of the epitope recognized by MoAb 60.3. These in vitro findings, in conjunction with observations from two patients, support the hypothesis that monocyte adherence to endothelium and emigration to tissues is mediated by mechanisms both dependent upon and independent of the CDw18 complex and the epitope recognized by MoAb 60.3.     

A peptide derived from the intercellular adhesion molecule-2 regulates the avidity of the leukocyte integrins CD11b/CD18 and CD11c/CD18

beta 2 integrin (CD11a,b,c/CD18)-mediated cell adhesion is required for many leukocyte functions. Under normal circumstances, the integrins are nonadhesive, and become adhesive for their cell surface ligands, the intercellular adhesion molecules (ICAMs), or soluble ligands such as fibrinogen and iC3b, when leukocytes are activated. Recently, we defined a peptide derived from ICAM-2, which specifically binds to purified CD11a/CD18. Furthermore, this peptide strongly induces T cell aggregation mainly mediated by CD11a/CD18-ICAM-1 interaction, and natural killer cell cytotoxicity. In the present study, we show that the same ICAM-2 peptide also avidly binds to purified CD11b/CD18, but not to CD11c/CD18. This binding can be blocked by the CD11b antibody OKM10. The peptide strongly stimulates CD11b/CD18-ICAM-1-mediated cell aggregations of the monocytic cell lines THP-1 and U937. The aggregations are energy and divalent cation-dependent. The ICAM-2 peptide also induces CD11b/CD18 and CD11c/CD18-mediated binding of THP- 1 cells to fibrinogen and iC3b coated on plastic. These findings indicate that in addition to induction of CD11a/CD18-mediated cell adhesion, the ICAM-2 peptide may also serve as a "trigger" for high avidity ligand binding of other beta 2 integrins.     

A unique recognition site mediates the interaction of fibrinogen with the leukocyte integrin Mac-1 (CD11b/CD18)

Mac-1 (CD11b/CD18), a leukocyte-restricted integrin receptor, mediates neutrophil/monocyte adhesion to vascular endothelium and phagocytosis of complement-opsonized particles. Recent studies have shown that Mac-1 also functions as a receptor for fibrinogen in a reaction linked to fibrin deposition on the monocyte surface. In this study, we have used extended proteolytic digestion of fibrinogen to identify the region of this molecule that interacts with Mac-1. We found that an Mr approximately 30,000 plasmic fragment D of fibrinogen (D30) produced dose-dependent inhibition (IC50 = 1.6 microM) of the interaction of intact 125I-fibrinogen with stimulated neutrophils and monocytes. 125I-D30 bound saturably to these cells with specific association of 136,200 +/- 15,000 molecules/cell in a reaction inhibited by OKM1 and M1/70, monoclonal antibodies specific for the alpha subunit of Mac-1. Direct microsequence analysis and an epitope-mapped monoclonal antibody showed that D30 lacks the COOH-terminal dodecapeptide of the gamma chain as well as the Arg-Gly-Asp sequences in the A alpha chain. We conclude that fibrinogen interacts with the leukocyte integrin Mac-1 through a novel recognition site that is not shared with other known integrins that function as fibrinogen receptors.     

Spontaneous aggregation as a mechanism for human monocyte purification

A previously unreported property of human mononuclear phagocytes is the ability of these cells to spontaneously aggregate. Fresh mononuclear cells obtained after plateletpheresis were noted to spontaneously form large cellular aggregates. Dual parameter immunofluorescence analysis demonstrated that the aggregating cells were positive for the monocyte marker CD11 (complement receptor, type 3) but were negative for the lymphocyte marker CD3 (T3 antigen). In addition, less than 5% of the nonaggregating cells were CD11+, suggesting that almost all CD11+ cells aggregated. Cellular aggregates were independent of cell concentration and formed more efficiently at 4 degrees C than at either 22 or 37 degrees C. Based on these observations, a purification procedure utilizing Ficoll-Hypaque separation, spontaneous aggregation at 4 degrees C, and transient plastic adherence resulted in a sevenfold enrichment of the CD11+ peripheral blood monocytes. Purified monocytes were contaminated with less than 2% CD3 cells. The size, growth, and adherence characteristics as well as cytologic stains indicated that the monocytes were not significantly altered by the purification procedure. Thus, spontaneous aggregation is an efficient and convenient method for the isolation of large numbers of purified monocytes.     

优化CD115稳定性因素以精确检测小鼠单核细胞及其亚群

单核细胞是机体防御系统的重要组成部分,单核细胞数量发生改变一定程度上可反映机体炎症或其他疾病状态。应用流式细胞术对单核细胞表面抗原进行检测,可了解单核细胞占比变化,有助于揭示单核细胞在疾病发生和转归中的作用。鉴于小鼠单核细胞特异性抗原CD115的稳定性较差,在流式检测过程中,对其影响因素进行优化,以确保检测结果的准确性。首先,探讨CD115抗原-抗体结合前后温度和放置时间对其影响及多聚甲醛（paraformalclehyde,PFA）固定对CD115稳定性的保持作用。在此基础上,通过组合流式抗体CD11c、 CD49b、 Ly6G、 Ter119、 CD3e 和 B220选定阴性细胞群,再用CD11b和CD115圈门得到双阳性的单核细胞,最后根据Ly6C表达强弱区分单细胞亚群。结果显示,温度和放置时间对小鼠单核细胞CD115的稳定性影响显著。将小鼠样本在冰上放置6 h时,CD11b和CD115双阳性细胞比例仍保持稳定,在室温放置1 h即明显下降,在37 ℃放置0.5 h则大部分消失。该结果在抗体结合前后趋势一致。PFA固定后,在4 ℃条件下避光保存, CD11b和CD115双阳性细胞比例可稳定保持3 d。在此优化条件下,应用组合抗体可较好地分析小鼠单核细胞及其亚群,为精准检测小鼠单核细胞提供了技术支持,并为进一步研究单核细胞生物学特性及其在疾病中的作用提供了可能。     

Modulation of surface antigens of a human monocyte cell line, U937, during incubation with T lymphocyte-conditioned medium: detection of T4 antigen and its presence on normal blood monocytes

The human monocyte line, U937, derived from an individual with histiocytic lymphoma, undergoes morphological and functional changes when incubated with medium conditioned by lectin-stimulated cloned human T lymphocytes. Using monoclonal antibodies and flow cytometry, we therefore analyzed alterations in surface components that might accompany these morphological changes, in comparison with components present on normal blood monocytes. The U937 cells possess three surface antigens in common with blood monocytes, detected with OKM1, 4F2, and anti-monocyte.2 (the last monocyte specific). DR antigen was not detectable on U937 cells with three anti-DR framework antibodies but was detected on blood monocytes. Unexpectedly, OKT4, a monoclonal antibody to T4 antigen previously believed to be restricted to helper T lymphocytes, also reacted with U937 cells. Six monoclonal antibodies to other epitopes on T4 also reacted with U937 cells. None of these could be inhibited by blocking of Fc receptors. T4 with its various epitopes were also expressed on normal human blood monocytes. Other lymphocyte surface markers (T3, T8, T6) and fibronectin were not detectable on U937 cells or monocytes. An individual, whose lymphocytes lacked the epitope detected with OKT4 but had epitopes detected with OKT4 A, B, C, and D, had monocytes with identical reactivity, evidence that the T4 on monocytes and lymphocytes are products of the same structural gene. Stimulation of U937 cells for 24 hours with supernatants from Con A-stimulated T lymphocyte clones caused an increase in expression of OKM1 and Fc receptor activity and a decrease in expression of T4, consistent with a more mature phenotype of blood monocytes. Although the function of the T4 molecule is unknown, it is notable that it is displayed by two cells of distinct lineage which interact in the response to soluble antigens.     

Opposite effects of thrombospondin-1 via CD36 and CD47 on homotypic aggregation of monocytic cells.

Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1), an extracellular matrix protein, has a multimodular structure and each domain specifies a distinct biological function through interaction with a specific ligand. In this study we found that exogenously added TSP-1 inhibits phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)/LPS-induced homotypic aggregation of human monocytic U937 cells, whereas the 70-kDa fragment of TSP-1 generated by the proteolytic cleavage of the intact molecule promotes the homotypic aggregation. The aggregation was also inhibited by anti-CD47 mAb or the 4N1K peptide, of which sequence is derived from the CD47-binding site of TSP-1 and absent in the 70-kDa fragment. In contrast, the augmented cell aggregation by the 70-kDa fragment was hampered by anti-CD36 mAb or antibody against the CD36-binding site of TSP-1. The cell aggregation of U937 cells was completely blocked, even in the presence of the 70-kDa fragment, by mAb against leukocyte function associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) or intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). We therefore propose that TSP-1 may regulate LFA-1/ICAM-1-mediated cell adhesion of monocytes/macrophages by either the inhibitory effect through CD47 or the promoting effect through CD36 depending on which domain/fragment is functional in a given biological setting.     

CD11/CD18 cell surface adhesion glycoproteins: Discordance of monocyte function and expression in response to stimulation

The adherence of blood leukocytes to vascular endothelium precedes their diapedesis into the extravascular space. These processes require the expression of adherence glycoproteins on the cell surface of the leukocyte. The relative importance of these adherence molecules is so far poorly understood. However, there is evidence to suggest that a disparity exists between the surface receptor expression of these glycoproteins and leukocyte adherence to vascular endothelial cells in culture. We have investigated the importance of each of the adhesion glycoproteins CD11a, CD11b, and CD11c in mediating the adherence of human monocytes to endothelial cells in culture. We have also investigated the chronological relationship between changes in monocyte adherence to endothelial cells and the surface expression of CD11a, CD11b, and CD11c following stimulation with N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP). The increase in adherence occurred within 1 minute, but declined if monocytes were preincubated with fMLP for up to 30 minutes. The surface expression of adherence molecules demonstrated a significant increase in CD11a and CD11b in the presence of fMLP after 10 min and was maintained while monocyte adherence to endothelium declined. These changes in surface receptor expression were quantitated using an immunolabeling technique. It is suggested that fMLP stimulation of monocyte adherence is unlikely to be solely dependent on increased surface receptor expression of adhesion molecules.     

T lymphocyte adhesion to endothelial cells: mechanisms demonstrated by anti-LFA-1 monoclonal antibodies

Adhesion of lymphocytes to vascular endothelium is the first event in the passage of lymphocytes into a chronic inflammatory reaction. To investigate molecular mechanisms of T-EC adhesion, monoclonal antibodies (Mab) against T cell surface antigens have been tested for inhibition of binding. Baseline and phorbol ester-stimulated adhesion were strongly inhibited by either Mab 60.3 (reactive with the beta-chain of the LFA-1, OKM1, and p150,95 molecules) or by Mab TS 1/22 (specific for the alpha-chain of LFA-1). Although the increased binding of phorbol ester-stimulated lymphocytes was inhibited by anti-LFA-1 antibody, there was no increased expression of LFA-1 on phorbol ester-stimulated T cells, as determined by FACS analysis. Maximal inhibition of unstimulated and phorbol ester-stimulated T-EC adhesion was seen at Mab concentrations of 1 microgram/ml. In contrast, LPS- and IL 1-enhanced T-EC adhesion were only weakly inhibited by these antibodies. Mab 60.3 and TS 1/22 did not stain either unstimulated EC or LPS- or IL 1-stimulated EC, as measured by FACS analysis; moreover, preincubation of EC alone with these antibodies did not lead to inhibition of T-EC binding. Adhesion was not affected by Mab against the sheep erythrocyte receptor (LFA-2), a nonpolymorphic HLA class 1 framework antigen, or against LFA-3, the alpha-chain of OKM1, or the alpha-chain of p150,95. These results suggest that the mechanism of binding of lymphocytes to unstimulated endothelium differs from that to stimulated endothelium. LFA-1 appears to be an important adhesion-related molecule for binding to unstimulated endothelium. However, the increased lymphocyte adhesion to IL 1- or LPS-stimulated EC observed in these experiments appears to be relatively independent of LFA-1. The increased adhesion to stimulated EC could be due either to an increase in the avidity or the density of the EC receptor molecules ordinarily involved in unstimulated T-EC binding or to the formation of alternative receptors on the stimulated EC that are not present on unstimulated cells.     

Expression of surface antigen and mRNA for the CD11c (alpha X, p150) subunit of the human leukocyte adherence receptor family in hematopoietic cells

We characterized the surface antigen and mRNA expression for the CD11c (alpha X, p150) subunit of the human leukocyte adherence receptor family during hematopoietic cell differentiation. The CD11c subunit antigen and mRNA are constitutively expressed in undifferentiated HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cells, and levels increase markedly with differentiation along the monocyte/macrophage pathway using phorbol myristate acetate. Human monocyte-derived macrophages and human alveolar macrophages express elevated levels of the CD11c subunit antigen and mRNA, indicating that the changes observed in vitro are present in vivo. Dot blot analysis of immature and mature lymphoid and myeloid cells and cell lines demonstrate equivalent levels of CD11c mRNA expression. We conclude that CD11c gene expression is selectively increased during hematopoietic cell differentiation along the monocyte/macrophage pathway.     

An essential role for calmodulin in regulating human T cell aggregation

After activation of T cells with either CD3 antibodies or phorbol esters, we have found that T cell-cell aggregation, integrin-dependent actin reorganisation and cell spreading are strongly suppressed by any of three structurally different calmodulin antagonists, without any effect on the amount of CD11/CD18 integrin binding to the actin cytoskeleton. However, only T cell receptor-induced, and not phorbol ester-induced, aggregation and cell spreading are prevented by inhibitors of phosphatidylinositide (PI) 3-kinase. These results suggest that PI 3-kinase lies upstream of calmodulin in the signalling pathway leading to T cell aggregation, cell spreading and actin reorganisation and that cell spreading and actin reorganisation are essential for T cell adhesion.     

Antibodies against the CD44 p80, lymphocyte homing receptor molecule augment human peripheral blood T cell activation

The CD44 inhibitor Lutheran [In(Lu)]-related p80 molecule has recently been shown to be identical to the Hermes-1 lymphocyte homing receptor and to the human Pgp-1 molecule. We have determined the effect of addition of CD44 antibodies to in vitro activation assays of PBMC. CD44 antibodies did not induce PBMC proliferation alone, but markedly enhanced PBMC proliferation induced by a mitogenic CD2 antibody pair or by CD3 antibody. CD44 antibody addition had no effect upon PBMC activation induced by PHA or tetanus toxoid. CD44 antibody enhancement of CD2 antibody-induced T cell activation was specific for mature T cells as thymocytes could not be activated in the presence of combinations of CD2 and CD44 antibodies. CD44 antibody enhancement of CD2-mediated T cell triggering occurred if CD44 antibody was placed either on monocytes or on T cells. In experiments with purified monocyte and T cell suspensions, CD44 antibodies A3D8 and A1G3 augmented CD2-mediated T cell activation by three mechanisms. First, CD44 antibody binding to monocytes induced monocyte IL-1 release, second, CD44 antibodies enhanced the adhesion of T cells and monocytes in CD2 antibody-stimulated cultures, and third, CD44 antibodies augmented T cell IL-2 production in response to CD2 antibodies. Thus, ligand binding to CD44 molecules on T cells and monocytes may regulate numerous events on both cell types that are important for T cell activation. Given that recent data suggest that the CD44 molecule may bind to specific ligands on endothelial cells (vascular addressin) and within the extracellular matrix (collagen, fibronectin), these data raise the possibility that binding of T cells to endothelial cells or extracellular matrix proteins may induce or up-regulate T cell activation in inflammatory sites.     

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and other cytokines regulate surface expression of the leukocyte adhesion molecule-1 on human neutrophils, monocytes, and their precursors.

There is increasing evidence that cytokines such as granulocyte-macrophage (GM)-CSF can profoundly affect the adhesion, aggregation, and mobility of neutrophils both in vitro and in vivo. However, the mechanisms whereby these factors might alter the adhesive properties of neutrophils are incompletely understood. A new family of cellular adhesion molecules has recently been identified by cDNA cloning. The members of this family include human leukocyte adhesion molecule-1 (LAM-1), the human endothelial-leukocyte adhesion molecule, and the mouse leukocyte homing receptor for high endothelial venules, MEL-14. LAM-1 is the human homologue of murine MEL-14, and is believed to mediate binding of leukocytes to human high endothelial venules. LAM-1 can be identified by mAb TQ-1, Leu 8, or anti-LAM1.1. The expression and regulation of LAM-1 on granulocytes, monocytes, and their precursors was investigated using flow cytometry and the anti-LAM-1.1 mAb. Neutrophils, eosinophils, monocytes, marrow myeloid cells, granulocyte/macrophage colony-forming unit, and burst-forming unit for erythroid cells were LAM-1+ by flow microfluorimetry. The regulation of LAM-1 expression was tested by treating various cell populations with cytokines or other stimuli for 0-90 min. Exposure of neutrophils, monocytes, and marrow myeloid cells to GM-CSF induced rapid and complete loss of LAM-1 from the cell surface, but had no effect on LAM-1 expression by lymphocytes. The loss of LAM-1 was temporally correlated with up-regulation of CD11b (Mo1), an adhesion molecule involved in neutrophil aggregation. Several other factors known to activate neutrophils also caused down-regulation of LAM-1 and up-regulation of CD11b, including TNF, FMLP, and leukotriene B4. Interestingly, granulocyte-CSF and IFN-gamma had minimal effects on neutrophil LAM-1 expression. Similar results were observed on monocytes and myeloid precursor cells. Thus, exposure of neutrophils to GM-CSF results in a profound change in surface expression of adhesion molecules, with coordinated up-regulation of CD11b and down-regulation of LAM-1. These changes in adhesion proteins are likely to alter aggregation and mobility of both mature myeloid cells and their precursors in patients receiving certain types of cytokine therapy.     

Circulating CD2+ monocytes are dendritic cells

Low levels of CD2 have been described on subsets of monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells. CD2 is expressed on about one-third of circulating monocytes, at levels one-half log lower than on T or NK cells, representing 2-4% of PBMC. FACS analysis of CD2+ and CD2- monocytes revealed no significant difference in the expression of adhesion molecules (CD11a/b/c), class II Ags (HLA-DR, -DQ, -DP), myeloid Ags (CD13, CD14, CD33), or costimulatory molecules (CD80, CD86). Freshly isolated CD2+ and CD2- monocytes were morphologically indistinguishable by phase contrast microscopy. However, scanning electron microscopy revealed large prominent ruffles on CD2+ monocytes in contrast to small knob-like projections on CD2- monocytes. After 2 days of culture, the CD2+ monocytes largely lost CD14 expression and developed distinct dendrites, whereas the CD2- monocytes retained surface CD14 and remained round or oval. Freshly isolated CD2+ monocytes were more potent inducers of the allogeneic MLR and more efficiently induced proliferation of naive T cells in the presence of HIV-1 gp120 than did CD2- monocytes. After culture in the presence of GM/CSF and IL-4, CD2+ monocytes were up to 40-fold more potent than monocyte-derived dendritic cells or CD2- monocytes at inducing allogeneic T cell proliferation. These findings suggest that circulating CD2+ and CD2- monocytes are dendritic cells and the precursors of macrophages, respectively. Thus, dendritic cells are far more abundant in the blood than previously thought, and they and precursors of macrophages exist in the circulation as phenotypically, morphologically, and functionally distinct monocyte populations.     

Subsets of human large granular lymphocytes (LGL) exhibit accessory cell functions

The present study shows that human large granular lymphocytes (LGL) depleted of OKT3 (T lymphocytes) and Leu-M1-positive (monocytes) cells exhibit accessory cell function for the T lymphoproliferative responses to the soluble stimulants Staphylococcus protein A (SpA) or Streptolysin O (SLO), as well as to surface antigens in the autologous and allogeneic mixed leukocyte reaction (MLR). Fractionation of LGL into subsets according to their reactivity with alpha OKT11, alpha DR, and alpha OKM1 MoAb led to the identification of the subset(s) of LGL with OKT11+, DR+, OKM1+ phenotype as the antigen-presenting cell (APC), whereas the DR-, OKM1- subset(s) of LGL was completely ineffective. Furthermore, virtually all the natural killer (NK) activity of LGL was associated with OKT11+ and OKM1+, DR+ LGL that exerted the observed APC function, suggesting that NK-active cells may also act as effective APC for T lymphocyte activation. These results indicate that human LGL with NK activity may exert other noncytotoxic functions and may play a major role in immunoregulation.     

Monoclonal antibodies against T cell differentiation antigens initiate stimulation of monocyte/macrophage oxidative metabolism

Within the first minute after incubation with the mouse anti-human T cell orthoclone monoclonal antibodies OKT3, OKT4, and OKT8, and in the absence of complement, human monocytes generate a burst of highly reactive oxygen metabolites as detected by a luminol-dependent photometric chemiluminescence (CL) assay. The kinetics of the CL responses to these antibodies are identical to that induced by OKM1, the monoclonal antibody to human monocytes and granulocytes. With regard to CL response intensities, OKM1 induces the maximal response and those of OKT3, OKT4, and OKT8 closely reflect the proportion of T cell subsets recognized by these antibodies in peripheral blood. This reaction is also observed when monoclonal antibodies against mouse Lyt surface determinants (Lyt-1 and Lyt-2) and Thy-1 antigen are tested against murine spleen cells. This murine model was further used to investigate the specificity and the mechanism of this reaction. It was demonstrated that the CL response is Lyt antigen specific, occurs upon addition of monoclonal IgG but not IgM antibodies, requires the concomitant presence of CL-producing cells (CLPC) (promonocytes, monocytes, macrophages, and/or granulocytes) and of fully differentiated T cells, and lastly, is mediated via a T cell opsonization process. Selective blockade of bone marrow cell Fc receptors (FcR II) with monoclonal anti-mouse FcR II antibody inhibits the CL response to IgG2b anti-T cell antibody-coated thymocytes and thus strongly suggests that the stimulation of CLPC oxidative metabolism in this model results from the binding of opsonized T cells to plasma membrane Fc receptors. These observations lend additional support to increasing evidence that the initiation of effector functions by monoclonal anti-T cell antibodies may be strictly dependent upon the presence of monocytes and/or macrophages.     

Colony-stimulating factor-induced monocyte survival and differentiation into macrophages in serum-free cultures

The role of mononuclear phagocyte-specific colony-stimulating factor (CSF-1) in human monocyte to macrophage differentiation was investigated. The addition of 1000 U/ml of CSF-1 to serum-free monocyte cultures resulted in monocyte survival comparable to that in cultures containing 5% AB serum, whereas cells in serum- and CSF-1-free medium lost their viability in 3 to 5 days. The requirement for CSF-1 coincided with the time (40 to 64 hr of culture) when the major changes in morphology and biochemical function took place in monocytes undergoing differentiation into macrophages. If CSF-1 was removed from the cultures before this time, death of the monocytes resulted. In cultures containing CSF-1, as in serum containing cultures, the lysosomal enzyme acid phosphatase was enhanced 10- to 20-fold by day 4 to 5. Superoxide production in response to phorbol myristic acetate was maintained in CSF-1 cultured monocytes, but declined with time in monocytes cultured in serum. The expression of monocyte-macrophage antigens p150.95 (LeuM5), OKM1, LeuM3, Fc receptors (32.2), and HLA-DR had increased in CSF-1 containing cultures at day 4. When antigen expression was analyzed at day 2 to 3, when cell size and 90 degrees scatter characteristics were still identical to control serum-free cultures, only p150.95, HLA-DR and FcR expression were enhanced by CSF-1. Low amounts of lipopolysaccharide (0.1 ng/ml) were found to enhance monocyte survival in the absence of added CSF-1. Lipopolysaccharide-containing cultures were found to produce CSF-1 (up to 450 U/ml, as detected by radioimmunoassay). Lipopolysaccharide (1 microgram/ml), however, did not induce enhanced expression of the maturation-related antigens. Based on these observations we conclude that CSF-1 is enhancing human monocyte survival and is involved in the events leading to the differentiation of monocytes into macrophages.     

The Ly-6Chigh monocyte subpopulation transports Listeria monocytogenes into the brain during systemic infection of mice

Mononuclear phagocytes can be used by intracellular pathogens to disseminate throughout the host. In the bloodstream these cells are generically referred to as monocytes. However, blood monocytes are a heterogeneous population, and the exact identity of the leukocyte(s) relevant for microbial spreading is not known. Experiments reported in this study used Listeria monocytogenes-infected mice to establish the phenotype of parasitized blood leukocytes and to test their role in systemic dissemination of intracellular bacteria. More than 90% of the blood leukocytes that were associated with bacteria were CD11b(+) mononuclear cells. Analysis of newly described monocyte subsets showed that most infected cells belonged to the Ly-6C(high) monocyte subset and that Ly-6C(high) and Ly-6C(neg-low) monocytes harbored similar numbers of bacteria per cell. Interestingly, systemic infection with wild-type or DeltaactA mutants of L. monocytogenes, both of which escape from phagosomes and replicate intracellularly, caused expansion of the Ly-6C(high) subset. In contrast, this was not evident after infection with Deltahly mutants, which neither escape phagosomes nor replicate intracellularly. Importantly, when CD11b(+) leukocytes were isolated from the brains of lethally infected mice, 88% of these cells were identified as Ly-6C(high) monocytes. Kinetic analysis showed a significant influx of Ly-6C(high) monocytes into the brain 2 days after systemic infection. This coincided with both bacterial invasion and up-regulation of brain macrophage chemoattractant protein-1 gene expression. These data indicate that the Ly-6C(high) monocyte subset transports L. monocytogenes into the brain and establish their role as Trojan horses in vivo.