The preparation and properties of monoclonal antibodies against human granulocyte membrane antigens.

A series of four monoclonal antibodies has been prepared by hybridization of mouse myeloma cells with spleen cells from mice immunized with human blood granulocytes. The four antibodies all react specifically with granulocytes, failing to stain lymphocytes and other blood cells. Lymphocytic leukaemia cells are not stained, whereas myeloid leukaemia cells give a varied reaction with the antibodies. Studies on marrow, leukaemic cells and cell lines suggest that the four antibodies react with distinct differentiation antigens which are absent from myeloblasts, appear at the promyelocyte, myelocyte or metamyelocyte stage (depending on the antibody in question) and are expressed on all mature granulocytes.