The calcium-binding proteins MRP8 and MRP14 form a membrane-associated heterodimer in a subset of monocytes/macrophages present in acute but absent in chronic inflammatory lesions.

Monocytes/macrophages expressing an epitope recognized by a monoclonal antibody 27E10 are present in acute but are absent in chronic inflammatory disorders. This report shows that the 27E10 antigen is formed by noncovalent association of the two Ca(2+)-binding proteins MRP8 and MRP14 which belong to the S100 protein family. Identification has been confirmed immunochemically, by matrix-assisted UV-laser desorption/ionization spectrometry and by partial amino acid sequencing. Surface expression of the MRP8/MRP14 complex on a subset of monocytes is reported for the first time and shown to be up-regulated in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner. The 27E10 surface-positive monocytes isolated by cell separation techniques release high amounts of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1 beta in contrast to their 27E10 surface-negative counterparts thus emphasizing their role in inflammation.