A discrete population of mononuclear phagocytes detected by monoclonal antibody.

Rat monoclonal antibody raised against cultured mouse bone marrow was used to detect an antigenic determinant on a discrete population of mouse mononuclear phagocytes by indirect immunofluorescence. The antigen was expressed on adherent, late-cultured bone marrow macrophages and chronic inflammatory peritoneal macrophages elicited by the injection of thioglycolate broth. Binding of the antibody to resident peritoneal or alveolar macrophages, blood monocytes, or freshly explanted bone marrow cells was not detected. Less than 10% of acute inflammatory mononuclear phagocytes expressed the antigen. The antibody did not bind detectably to lymphocytes, granulocytes, erythrocytes, fibroblasts, or the cells of several murine tumor lines. Results suggesting binding to mast cells were equivocal. The antigen was species, but not strain, specific. It was concluded that maturation, at least, was required for expression of the antigen. Results suggested that additional influences were also involved.