Regulation of expression of class II major histocompatibility antigens on human peripheral blood monocytes and Langerhans cells by interferon.

Although normal peripheral blood monocytes from different individuals are primarily DR+ (L243), they vary in the mean expression of L243 and the percentage of cells with detectable Leu-10 (DC/DS) and L03 (D). All three species of human recombinant IFNs enhance Ia expression on normal peripheral blood monocytes; however, r-IFN-gamma is much more effective in enhancing the expression of these three class II antigens in vitro than r-IFN-beta or r-IFN-alpha A. In addition, r-IFN-gamma has a more profound effect on the expression of Leu-10 (DC/DS), an antigen critical for presentation in autologous MLR, than on L243 (DR). Adherent monocytes cultured for 5 days develop macrophage characteristics and become strongly positive for all three of these class II antigens without further manipulation. Isolated skin Langerhans cells which are thought to be antigen presenting cells in the epidermis are also strongly positive for all three of these Ia antigens and are unaffected by IFN treatment. Therefore, this early interferon effect on cell surface expression may be the result of enhancing the maturation of monocytes to mature antigen presenting cells.