The surface phenotypic characterization of lung macrophages in C3H/HeJ mice

We have investigated the surface phenotypic profile of murine lung macrophages in frozen tissue sections, in single-cell suspensions obtained by endobronchial lavage, and in collagenase digests of parenchymal lung tissue, using a panel of monoclonal antibodies directed against pan macrophage markers and antigens present on distinct lymphoid-associated macrophage subpopulations. Our results indicate that lung macrophages from specific pathogen-free (SPF), lipopolysaccharide (LPS) hyporesponsive C3H/HeJ mice are relatively homogeneous no matter what lung tissue compartment they are obtained from. Their predominant surface phenotype was F4/80weak, M1/70-, MOMA-2+, NLDC-145+, MOMA-1+, SER-4+, which resembles the pattern of expression by lymphoid macrophages rather than representative tissue macrophages such as those found in the peritoneal cavity. These results are consistent with the current paradigm that lung macrophages, like lymphoid macrophages, play an important immunoregulatory role within their microenvironment.