Macrophages (histiocytes) in various reactive and inflammatory conditions express different antigenic phenotypes.
The purpose of this study was to determine whether human tissue macrophages (M phi s) in various inflammatory/reactive conditions express different immunophenotypes. Using a large panel of monoclonal antibodies to monocyte/M phi-related antigens and a frozen-section immunoperoxidase technique, the following conditions were studied: granulomatous inflammation of unknown etiology, sarcoidosis, cat-scratch fever, toxoplasmosis, Gaucher's disease, and juvenile xanthogranulomas. The results show that there is immunophenotypic variation of the M phi s among the various inflammatory/reactive conditions. For example, the M phi s in cat-scratch fever are nearly unique in the expression of the "early inflammation" antigen identified by antibody 27E10, and the M phi s in juvenile xanthogranulomas, unlike those in most of the other conditions, lacked the antigen detected by antibody 25F9. The M phi s in Gaucher's disease differed from those in the other disorders by the combined absence of CD11b, CD14, G16/1, CD1a, CD25, and CD30. The inflammatory/reactive M phi s also exhibited differences from those in "normal" tissues, namely, a tendency toward acquisition of the antigens identified by antibodies Mac 387 and G16/1 and the more uniform expression of the "activation" antigens CD25, CD30, and CD71. The antigenic variations described here probably reflect differences in antigenic stimuli and M phi function. In addition to the possible biologic implications, this M phi immunophenotypic diversity may have practical diagnostic applications.
O'Laughlin
S
S
Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510.
Braverman
M
M
Smith-Jefferies
M
M
Buckley
P
P
D000941:Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D001706:Biopsy; D002372:Cat-Scratch Disease / Q000276:immunology*; D005776:Gaucher Disease / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D017730:Ki-1 Antigen; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology*; D010641:Phenotype; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000276:immunology*; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000276:immunology*; D014972:Xanthogranuloma, Juvenile / Q000276:immunology*
D000941:Antigens; D015703:Antigens, CD; D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; C068126:CD71 antigen; D017730:Ki-1 Antigen; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin