Differential expression of HLA-DR and HLA-DQ antigens on normal cells of the myelomonocytic lineage

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Abstract
We have previously shown that HLA‐class II antigens have a differential expression on acute myeloblastic leukaemia (AML) blasts. These cells express HLA‐DR molecules but the HLA‐DQ antigens are undetectable. In this paper we study the expression of HLA‐DR and HLA‐DQ antigens, using monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs), on normal cells of the myelomonocytic lineage: the common myelomonocytic progenitor (CFU‐GM) and the monocytes, by techniques of inhibition of CFU‐GM growth and double immunofluorescence, respectively. The results show that HLA‐DR and HLA‐DQ antigens are differentially expressed on normal myelomonocytic cells. While HLA‐DR molecules are expressed on CFU‐GM and on the majority of peripheral blood monocytes, HLA‐DQ antigens are not expressed on CFU‐GM and only present on a subpopulation of monocytes. This data further confirms that HLA‐DR and HLA‐DQ molecules are coded by different genes with independent regulation of the gene expression not only on myeloid leukaemias but also on normal cells of the myelomonocytic lineage.