Human B cells express membrane-bound and soluble forms of the CD14 myeloid antigen

The expression of the myeloid differentiation antigen CD14 on the B lineage was analyzed. A CD14-specific monoclonal antibody was used to isolate the antigen from normal B, B-type chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells, and a representative Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B lymphoblastoid cell line (EBVLCL). A soluble form of this protein was detected in the culture supernatant of all the B cell types tested. The molecule expressed in the normal B and B-type chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells was identical in size to the 52,000 mol. wt monocyte-isolated CD14 glycoprotein. A 64,000 mol. wt antigen was isolated from the lymphoblastoid cell line. Similar 2-D gel electrophoretic patterns to that of the monocyte-derived CD14 were obtained from the normal B and B-type chronic lymphocytic leukemia cell-isolated molecules. These similarities were reflected in minor isoelectric point (pI) differences between the polypeptide spots (pI 4.8), in the first dimension, and identical molecular weight (52,000) in the second dimension. The EBVLCL-isolated polypeptide, when analyzed by 2-D gel electrophoresis, showed a pI identical to that of the myeloid antigen (pI 4.6). The isolated soluble form was of smaller (47,000 mol. wt, normal B and B-type chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells) or similar size (64,000 mol. wt, lymphoblastoid cell line) compared with their corresponding membrane-bound forms. Interestingly, two-colour immunofluorescence analysis showed that only two out of four CD14-specific mAb tested bound to the B cells. We conclude that the CD14 antigen is, in fact, expressed in the B lineage. Its cell surface expression and serum level in the prognosis of B-type chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients needs to be evaluated.