Murine immunoglobulin G anti-CD4 monoclonal antibodies bind to primary human monocytes and macrophages through Fc receptors as well as authentic CD4.

Using Western blot and fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis, we demonstrated that primary human monocytes and culture-derived macrophages express low levels of authentic CD4 antigen. The plasma membrane Fc receptor (FcR) on mononuclear phagocytes plays a major role in the binding of murine immunoglobulin G2 alpha anti-CD4 monoclonal antibody (MAb), and contributes to binding of other subclasses. The FcR detected shows an increase in apparent molecular weight from 60 to 70 kD over 2 weeks in culture. U937 cells resemble T lymphocytes, rather than primary monocytes/macrophages, in expressing relatively high levels of CD4; FcR contributes little to the signal. The potential bivalent interactions between immunoglobulin G and receptors such as CD4 and FcR could influence the binding and fate of HIV in primary monocytes/macrophages.