Immunocytologic characterization using monoclonal antibodies of lung lavage cell phenotype in infants who have died from sudden infant death syndrome.

The phenotype of cells obtained from pulmonary lavage in infants who have died from sudden infant death syndrome were examined and compared with cells from control subjects. The only striking difference between the groups was a lack of reactivity of lavage cells with antibody of the CD14A cluster in the sudden infant death syndrome subjects, while antibodies of the CD14B cluster reacted strongly with cells from both the sudden infant death syndrome group and controls. Major histocompatibility complex class II antigens were expressed on approximately 95% of lavage cells, with DQ expressed more frequently than DR or DP. The majority of the lavage cells was macrophages, yet they reacted with CD3 (OKT3) and CD8 (OKT8) antibodies. No interleukin 2 was found in the lavage fluid.