Studies on CD11a and CD18 Molecules with Two New Monoclonal Antibodies: Differential Myelomonocytic Antigen Expression of PMA Treated HL60 and U937 Cell Lines

Biochemical and functional aspects as well as features of cellular distribution of the differentiation groups CD11a and CD18 were studied in the course of a detailed characterization of two new monoclonal antibodies which recognize the alpha (GRS3) and beta (GRF1) chains of the LFA-1 antigen. Both MAbs inhibited homotypic aggregation of an EBV cell line. In contrast, only GRF1 (anti-beta chain) was able to inhibit granulocyte aggregation as well. Different myeloid-monocyte antigen modulation was noted in PMA induced macrophage differentiation of the U937 and HL60 cell lines. PMA treated HL60 cells showed increased expression of alpha M (CD11b) and alpha X (CD11c) antigens but no change in HLA-DR or CD14 antigen expression. No variation in the expression of LFA complex antigen (CD11a, b and c, or CD18) was observed on U937 cells, which on the other hand presented de novo expression of HLA-DR and CD14 antigens.