Functional subsets of human monocytes defined by monoclonal antibodies: a distinct subset of monocytes contains the cells capable of inducing the autologous mixed lymphocyte culture.

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The induction of most immune responses requires the close cooperation between T cells and antigen-presenting cells (APC), presumably of monocyte/macrophage (M phi) lineage. To characterize human APC further, we used two monoclonal antibodies, OKM1 and OKM5, to isolate and identify M phi subsets. OKM1 has been described and recognizes cell surface antigens on most M phi and granulocytes. OKM5 recognizes cell surface determinants present on the majority of human M phi but does not recognize other hematopoietic cell types. A small subset of peripheral blood M phi is OKM1-OKM5+. Human peripheral blood E- cells were separated into OKM1+ and OKM1- subsets by a rosetting technique utilizing anti-Ig-coated red cells. The capacity to present self antigens in the autologous mixed lymphocyte culture (AMLC) resided predominantly within the E-OKM1- subset, even if surface membrane Ig-positive cells were eliminated. Similar experiments showed that the ability to stimulate in AMLC was contained in the E-OKM5+ population and in fact resided primarily within the E-OKM1-OKM5+ subset. All of these subsets were able to trigger allogeneic T cells to proliferate. The capacity of these APC subsets to present soluble antigens (mumps, tetanus toxoid) was also examined. The data demonstrated that although the majority of these APC are E-OKM1+, E-OKM1-OKM5+ cells can also present foreign antigen. Taken together, these data suggest OKM1 and OKM5 can be used to isolate two functionally distinct human M phi subsets. One subset (E-OKM1+) is capable of presenting soluble antigens but shows minimal ability to trigger AMLC. The other subset (E-OKM1-OKM5+) can also present soluble antigens but is the predominant subset that can trigger AMLC.

This publication has 22 references indexed in Scilit: