Anti-Leu-3/T4 antibodies react with cells of monocyte/macrophage and Langerhans lineage.
Anti-Leu-3a, anti-Leu-3b, OKT4, and anti-T4 murine monoclonal antibodies react with a membrane component expressed by mature peripheral blood helper T cells and certain thymocyte subsets. Using a variety of immunologic staining techniques, we have demonstrated the reactivity of these antibodies with other cell types. Normal and neoplastic cells of monocyte/macrophage lineage bear the Ia+/Leu-6-/Leu-3+ phenotype, whereas histiocytosis X cells bear the Ia+/Leu-6+/Leu-3+ phenotype. The Ia+/Leu-6- cells of malignant histiocytosis and the Ia+/Leu-6+ epidermal Langerhans cells were variably Leu-3+. Normal monocyte/macrophage reactivity with anti-Leu-3/T4 appears to be primarily intracytoplasmic, whereas on U937 monocyte tumor cells, marked membrane reactivity is also observed. These results strongly suggest that certain cells other than helper T cells and thymocytes can express and, at least in some cases, synthesize a component previously regarded as T-lineage specific.
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000502:physiology*; D000937:Antigen-Antibody Reactions; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002460:Cell Line; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D009000:Monocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface