Characterization of murine CD10, an endopeptidase expressed on bone marrow adherent cells.

The CD10/neutral endopeptidase (NEP) gene was identified in murine genomic DNA using a human CD10 cDNA probe. It is transcribed most abundantly in kidneys resulting in RNA transcripts of 3.4, 6.0, and 6.2 kb. The activity of the murine CD10/NEP shows identical kinetic parameters, Km and Ki, to those observed for this enzyme in other species. Two mAbs raised against rabbit NEP detect a 100 kDa protein by Western blot analysis; the antigen immunoprecipitated from extracts of lung shows specific NEP activity. CD10/NEP, as analyzed by Western blot and enzymatic activity, is expressed at high levels in kidney and lung, and at lower levels in liver, brain, thymus, spleen, and bone marrow. Analysis of bone marrow subpopulations indicate that the majority of CD10/NEP is associated with cells adherent to plastic and with subpopulations that do not express the surface markers AA4.1, B220, Mac-1, and Gr-1. These results suggest that CD10 is primarily associated with the stromal elements in murine bone marrow. A bone marrow stromal line, BMS 2.2, also expresses high levels of CD10/NEP. This peptidase activity on the surface of stromal cells may influence lymphopoiesis or other hematopoietic processes through the hydrolysis of regulatory peptides in the microenvironment.