Downregulation of mac-1 expression in monocytes by surface-bound IgG

Physical and functional association between the beta2-integrin Mac-1 (CD11b/CD18) and receptors of immunoglobulin G (IgG) (FcgammaRs) has been previously reported. In this study, we examined the modulation of Mac-1 expression by IgG in different leucocyte populations. Our data show that human monocytes, but not neutrophils, macrophages, dendritic or natural killer cells, downregulate the expression of Mac-1 after overnight exposure to surface-bound IgG. This effect, which requires at least 6 h of incubation, is not associated with a general downmodulation of membrane antigens, and is selectively induced by immobilized IgG (iIgG), as the stimulation of monocytes with N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine, lipopolysaccharide, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) or soluble IgG did not modify the Mac-1 expression after 18 h in culture. The loss of Mac-1 was completely prevented by blocking antibodies (Abs) directed to FcgammaRII (CD32) or CD18. On the other hand, the serine protease inhibitor, phenyl methyl sulphonyl fluoride, but not inhibitors of cysteine proteases or neutral endopeptidases, partially prevented the downregulation of Mac-1 by iIgG. Monocytes cultured overnight on iIgG exhibited a dramatic decrease in their capacity to ingest zymosan particles that could be attributed to the reduced expression of Mac-1. However, there was no inhibition of TNF-alpha production induced by zymosan, suggesting that Mac-1-dependent responses require different levels of its expression to be fully activated.