Relationship of mouse erythrocyte binding receptor on peripheral blood mononuclear cells to receptors for IgG Fc and C3.

When peripheral blood mononuclear cells separated at 4 degrees C were incubated at 37 degrees C, they shed their surface receptors. Total absorption of the released mouse erythrocyte binding receptors from the supernatant of the cell suspension with mouse erythrocytes did not lead to a change in the IgG Fc and C3 receptor content of the supernatant. On removal of the C3 or IgG Fc receptors, the quantity of mouse erythrocyte binding receptor remained unchanged. These observations indicate that the three receptors are mutually independent structures, or undergo dissociation in the course of the shedding.