Identification and characterization of a unique subpopulation (CALLA/CD10/negative) of human neutrophils manifesting a heightened chemotactic response to activated complement.

We have previously demonstrated that human neutrophils synthesize the common acute lymphoblastic leukemia antigen (CALLA/CD10). To determine whether CALLA/CD10-positive and -negative neutrophils have similar or distinct functional attributes, we sorted normal peripheral blood neutrophils for CALLA/CD10 expression and compared their chemotactic ability. Surprisingly, the low-frequency (approximately 5%), CALLA/CD10-negative neutrophils displayed a dramatically heightened chemotactic response to activated complement (C') that was (a) specific for C', (b) not observed with other minor subpopulations of neutrophils, (c) not due to previous activation in vivo or in vitro, and (d) apparently not due to an increase in C5a receptors. These results underscore the concept of neutrophil heterogeneity and prompt the hypothesis that CALLA/CD10-negative neutrophils may participate in an inflammatory response to trauma involving complement activation.