Distinct mouse bone marrow macrophage precursors identified by differential expression of ER-MP12 and ER-MP20 antigens.
The characterization of early branch points in the differentiation of leukocytes requires identification of precursor cells in the bone marrow. Recently, we produced two monoclonal antibodies, ER-MP12 and ER-MP20, which in two-color flow-cytometric analysis divide the murine bone marrow into six defined subsets. Here we show, using fluorescence-activated cell sorting followed by macrophage colony-stimulating factor-stimulated culture in soft agar, that precursors of the mononuclear phagocyte system reside only within the ER-MP12hi20-, ER-MP12+20+ and ER-MP12-20hi bone marrow subsets. Together, these subsets comprise 15% of nucleated bone marrow cells. Furthermore, we provide evidence that the macrophage precursors present in these subsets represent successive stages in a maturation sequence where the most immature ER-MP12hi20- cells develop via the ER-MP12+20+ stage into ER-MP12-20hi monocytes.
de Bruijn
M F
MF
Department of Immunology, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Slieker
W A
WA
van der Loo
J C
JC
Voerman
J S
JS
van Ewijk
W
W
Leenen
P J
PJ
D000818:Animals; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000032:analysis*; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D005260:Female; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D016177:Macrophage-1 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL
D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D016177:Macrophage-1 Antigen; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor