Enhancement of human neutrophil complement receptors: a comparison of the rosette technique with the uptake of radio-labelled anti-CR1 monoclonal antibody.

We have compared the rosette technique (using C3b-coated red cells) with the uptake of a 125I F(ab')2 anti-complement receptor type 1 (CR1) monoclonal antibody (E11) for studying the phenomenon of chemotactic factor (fMLP)-induced complement receptor enhancement (CRE) on human neutrophils. With both methods the dose responses of fMLP were similar with maximal CRE being observed at 10(-7) moles 1(-1). Conversely, the time course of CRE and the effects of disodium cromoglycate (DSCG) on inhibition of enhancement were discrepant. Maximal CRE with the rosette method was observed at 30 min, whereas increased uptake of anti-CR1 had still not reached a plateau after 1 h. DSCG inhibited fMLP-induced CRE, as assessed by the rosette technique, whereas this agent had no effect on increased binding of radio-labelled anti-CR1 antibody. These results suggest that in CRE the increased adherence of C3b-coated red cells to fMLP-stimulated neutrophils, as measured by the rosette technique, is not dependent exclusively on the increased numbers of CR1.