Two new monoclonal antibodies to human monocytes and granulocytes: isolation of membrane antigens and lack of effects of antibodies on leukocyte functions in vitro.

Mice were immunized with purified human monocytes or granulocytes obtained by leukapheresis and isolated on dextran gradients or by countercurrent centrifugation-elutriation. A monoclonal antibody, Mo95, was generated in response to monocytes and was found to react strongly with monocytes, large granular lymphocytes (LGL), granulocytes, eosinophils, and some myelomonocytic leukemia cells, but not with normal T or B lymphocytes, platelets, red cells, or leukemic cell lines. Mo95 is an IgG1 antibody, which precipitated a 95 kD molecular weight antigen. Addition of the Mo95 antibody to monocytes in the absence of complement did not inhibit lysozyme secretion nor did it affect superoxide production, C3b-rosetting, nitrotetrazolium blue reduction, phagocytosis, or chemotactic responses. A second antibody, PMN70, was found to react exclusively with granulocytes and not with monocytes, lymphocytes, LGL, platelets, red cells, or any of the myelomonocytic, T-cell-derived or B-cell-derived leukemic cell lines tested. The PMN70 antibody immunoprecipitated a 70 kD molecular weight antigen found only on mature granulocytes. Mo95 and PMN70 appear to be distinct from five other tested monoclonal antibodies reactive to monocytes and/or granulocytes on the basis of the fluorescent cell sorter and immunoprecipitation studies performed.