HUMAN DENDRITIC CELLS AND MACROPHAGES - INSITU IMMUNOPHENOTYPIC DEFINITION OF SUBSETS THAT EXHIBIT SPECIFIC MORPHOLOGIC AND MICROENVIRONMENTAL CHARACTERISTICS

  • 1 January 1985
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 119  (1) , 73-82
Abstract
Using a panel of monoclonal antibodies and antisera in situ, subsets of human dendritic cells and macrophages were defined that exhibit specific morphologic and microenvironmental characteristics. All subsets contained cells that reacted with antibodies directed against HLA-A, B, C, HLA-Dr, leukocyte common, Leu-M3 and LEU-3(T4) antigens. R4/23 and anti-S 100 defined 3 major subsets. R4/23+, S100- cells constituted the B-cell-related follicular dendritic cells, which were identified only within the germinal center/mantle microenvironment of lymphoid follicles. R4/23-, S100+ cells constituted the T-cell-related dendritic cell subset. Anti-Leu-6(T6) further subdivided this group into Leu-6(T6)- interdigitating cells within the T-cell microenvironments of lymphoid organs and Leu-6(T6)+ Langerhans cells found predominantly in epithelial microenvironments, especially the skin. R4/23-, S100- cells constituted the nondendritic tissue macrophage subset which was widely distributed, primarily outside of dendritic-dell microenvironments. Although dendritic cells and macrophages share several common antigenic features, morphologically and microenvironmentally distinct subsets express distinct immunologic phenotypes. Such data may provide insight into the ontogeny and function of these subsets and constitute a basis for the comparison of normal dendritic cells and macrophages to various histocytic proliferative disorders.