AM-3K, an anti-macrophage antibody, recognizes CD163, a molecule associated with an anti-inflammatory macrophage phenotype.
CD163 is a member of the scavenger receptor cysteine-rich superfamily restricted to the monocyte/macrophage lineage and is thought to be a useful marker for anti-inflammatory or alternatively activated macrophages. In this study we used mass spectrometric analysis to determine that the antigen recognized by the antibody AM-3K, which we previously generated as a tissue macrophage-specific monoclonal antibody, was CD163. An anti-inflammatory subtype of macrophages stimulated by dexamethasone or interleukin-10 showed strong reactivity for AM-3K and increased expression of CD163 mRNA. Immunohistochemical staining of routinely processed pathological specimens revealed that AM-3K recognized a specialized subpopulation of macrophages. In granulomatous diseases such as tuberculosis, sarcoidosis, or foreign body reactions, tissue macrophages around granulomas, but not component cells of the granulomas such as epithelioid cells and multinucleated giant cells, showed positive staining for AM-3K. In atherosclerotic lesions, scattered macrophages in diffuse intimal lesions were strongly positive for AM-3K, whereas foamy macrophages in atheromatous plaques demonstrated only weak staining. We therefore suggest that, in routine pathological specimens, AM-3K is a useful marker for anti-inflammatory macrophages because these cells can be distinguished from inflammatory or classically activated macrophages. Because AM-3K cross-reacts with macrophage subpopulations in different animal species including rats, guinea pigs, rabbits, cats, dogs, goats, pigs, bovine species, horses, monkeys, and cetaceans, it will have wide application for detection of CD163 in various animals.
Komohara
Yoshihiro
Y
Department of Cell Pathology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University 1-1-1, Honjo Kumamoto, Kumamoto 860-8556, Japan.
Hirahara
Junko
J
Horikawa
Tomohiro
T
Kawamura
Kyoko
K
Kiyota
Emi
E
Sakashita
Naomi
N
Araki
Norie
N
Takeya
Motohiro
M
D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005549:Foreign-Body Reaction / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D005776:Gaucher Disease / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D005870:Giant Cell Tumors / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D015616:Histiocytosis, Non-Langerhans-Cell / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D015618:Histiocytosis, Sinus / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008262:Macrophage Activation; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D016612:Paraffin Embedding; D010641:Phenotype; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000473:pathology; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D000098902:CD163 Antigen
D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D000098902:CD163 Antigen; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface