Dendritic cell and macrophage staining by monoclonal antibodies in tissue sections and epidermal sheets.

Mouse tissue sections were stained by monoclonal antibodies to macrophage antigens (Mac-1 (M1/70), Mac-2 (M3/38), Mac-3 (M3/84) with the use of immunoperoxidase. Mac-1 was located diffusely in the cytoplasm of round cells in a high percentage of alveolar macrophages, resident peritoneal and bone marrow cells, in splenic red pulp, and in rare perivascular cells in the thymus. Mac-1 was absent in epithelial cells and Langerhans cells. Mac-2 was strongly positive in many dendritic cells in the thymic medulla, more than the cortex, in paracortex and medulla of lymph nodes, sparing the follicles, and in the marginal zone of spleen. There were a few positive cells in germinal centers. Mac-2 was located in a low percentage of bone marrow and a high percentage of resident peritoneal cells. When positive in sections Mac-3 always showed granular cytoplasmic staining. Bone marrow showed a high percentage of cytoplasmic staining (greater than 50%), as compared with low surface staining (less than 1%). It was found in hematopoietic cells, and in all endothelium, including postcapillary venules and lining of sinuses. It was probable that the resulting dendritic staining pattern for Mac-3 in paracortex of lymph node, white and red pulp, thymic cortex, and medulla included dendritic cells other than endothelial cells. Alveolar macrophages and Kupffer cells were positive for Mac-2 and Mac-3. Mac-3 also stained bile canaliculi. Clearly different staining patterns were found in epithelial cells for Mac-2 and Mac-3 in kidney tubules, intestinal mucosal lining, bronchi, choroid plexus, and epidermis.