Identification and structural characterization of Fc gamma-receptors on pulmonary alveolar macrophages

Little is known about the structure of the cell surface receptors for the Fc portion of immunoglobulin G (Fc gamma R) on tissue macrophages. Studies on leukocytes indicate the existence of three classes of Fc gamma R, denoted I, II, and III. The purpose of this study was to structurally characterize Fc gamma R on alveolar macrophages obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage, comparing them with Fc gamma R of monocytes, neutrophils, and U937 cells. Flow-cytometric evaluation, utilizing anti-Fc gamma R class-specific monoclonal antibodies, showed that alveolar macrophages expressed three Fc gamma R classes. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis of the immunopurified Fc gamma R molecules revealed the following apparent molecular mass for each Fc gamma R class: Fc gamma RI, 70 kDa; Fc gamma RII, 44 kDa; and Fc gamma RIII, 57-65 kDa. RNA blot analysis demonstrated a 1.7-kb transcript for Fc gamma RI, 2.5 and 1.6 kb transcripts for Fc gamma RII, and a 2.2 kb mRNA for Fc gamma RIII. Fc gamma RII displayed the high-responder/low-responder polymorphism. Fc gamma RIII did not express the neutrophil antigen-type specific structural polymorphism of the deglycosylated Fc gamma R molecule and appeared to be a transmembrane molecule.