Identification of subpopulations of human macrophages through the generation of human macrophage hybridomas.

We have generated a series of human macrophage hybridomas by fusing an HGPRT-deficient promonocytic cell line, U937, with macrophages obtained by allowing monocytes to mature into macrophages in teflon bags. The fusions were documented as true hybrids by the acquisition of donor class I molecules, as well as donor derived macrophage surface antigens. The hybridomas represent clonal expansion of individual macrophages, retaining the surface antigen expression and functional capacity of the normal donor cells including cytokine production and stimulation in a mixed lymphocyte reaction. These cell lines differentially express Vmax antigens found on normal macrophages, potentially identifying subpopulations of macrophages. These lines may be useful not only to study normal macrophage function but may be relevant to a variety of disease states where expansion of subpopulations of macrophages identified by Vmax antigens may be important in disease pathogenesis.