Abstract
We have tried the production of a monoclonal antibody against human alveolar macrophages. It was derived from the fusion of the NS-1 plasmacytoma cell line with spleen cells from a BALB/c mouse immunized with human bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cells. The binding characteristics of the monoclonal antibody, called AMH-1, was analyzed by cellular radioimmunoassay, flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry.
AMH-1 antibody reacted strongly with some lung macrophages in alveolar spaces and in BAL fluid, but did not react with mononuclear cells in peripheral blood, including monocytes, lymphocytes and granulocytes. Furthermore, neither peritoneal exudate cells obtained from a patient with liver cirrhosis nor BAL-cells from rats were reactive with AMH-1. The comparative study with OKM 1 revealed that macrophage surface antigen molecules recognized by AMH-1 differ from those of OKM 1. Immunoglobulin subclass of AMH-1 was IgM, lambda.
AMH-1 thus may define a tissue specific differentiating antigens on alveolar macrophages differing from common antigens of the macrophage population. This anitbody is characterized as recognizing a discrete molecule specific to lung macrophages, and further could help closely the differentiation and maturation process of lung macrophages.
