Studies on human blood lymphocytes with iC3b (type 3) complement receptors. I. Granular, Fc-IgG receptor positive and negative subsets in healthy subjects and patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
By using the OKM1 monoclonal antibody and the fluorescence-activated cell sorter to identify lymphocytes bearing iC3b (type 3) complement receptors, two principal populations of OKM1+ lymphocytes have been identified in human peripheral blood. One subset exhibited azurophilic granules and Fc receptors for IgG stained by Leu-11. The other population did not display FcR, but was enriched in cells reacting with OKT3 and OKT8 (low intensity). In healthy subjects, approximately 60% of CR3+ lymphocytes were granular FcR-bearing cells and only 18% co-expressed OKT3 determinants. In patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), CR3+ lymphocytes were predominantly FcR negative cells and 71% lacked granules. Only 33% reacted with Leu-11, but 50% co-expressed OKT3, 44% reacted with OKT8+, and 15% were OKT4+. We tested the hypothesis that agranular OKT3+ Leu-11- lymphocytes, such as those found in SLE patients, contained the precursors of natural killer (NK) cells. Leu-11+ cells were removed from normal lymphocytes by complement lysis, and the remaining cells were treated with recombinant IFN-alpha, IFN-gamma, or IL 2. These procedures were ineffective in generating typical NK effector cells. Our studies do not support the hypothesis that CR3+ Leu-11- lymphocytes are the precursors of granular Leu-11+ NK cells.
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000937:Antigen-Antibody Reactions; D002469:Cell Separation; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000378:metabolism*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000378:metabolism*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification* / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D011951:Receptors, Complement / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D017463:Receptors, Complement 3b; D011961:Receptors, Fc / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D017452:Receptors, IgG
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D011951:Receptors, Complement; D017463:Receptors, Complement 3b; D011961:Receptors, Fc; D017452:Receptors, IgG