Dendritic cells and monocytes as accessory cells in T-cell responses in man. I. Phenotypic analysis of dendritic cells and monocytes.

A method is described for simple and rapid preparation of human dendritic cells (DC) and monocytes (Mo) from peripheral blood. The phenotype of enriched DC and Mo was determined and compared by means of a panel of monoclonal antibodies (Mab's). The distribution and quantitative expression of HLA class II molecules encoded by the subloci DP, DQ, and DR were the same on the two cell types. During in vitro culture a rapid decrease of class II antigens on Mo was observed, whereas the expression of class II antigens on DC was relatively stable. The absence of monocyte markers on DC may indicate that this cell type does not belong to the monocyte/macrophage cell lineage. The phenotypic analysis shows that peripheral blood DC also lack differentiation antigens expressed by epidermal Langerhans cells (OKT6) and lymph node follicular dendritic reticulum cells (DRC-1). The relationship between peripheral blood DC and tissue-localized DC thus remains unsolved. With relatively high numbers of DC now available, production of DC lineage-specific Mab's may be approached.