Human follicular dendritic cells: isolation and characteristics in situ and in suspension

Follicular dendritic cells (FDC) in human tonsils, either in situ in follicular germinal centres or isolated from tissue, were characterized by immunohistochemical, enzyme cytochemical and electron microscopical methods. Using polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies, expression of DRC-1, Ki-M4, HLA-DR, CR1, C1q antigens, a macrophage marker, and surface IgG and IgM were found on isolated FDC and on FDC in situ. None of these reagents proved to be specific for FDC, e.g. the FDC-directed antibodies DRC-1 and Ki-M4 labelled B lymphocytes in cytofluorography. Enzyme cytochemical staining revealed activities of non-specific esterase, acid alpha-naphthylacetate esterase and ATPase in germinal centres and in freshly isolated FDC. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated a weak expression of CD4 by a fraction of isolated FDC, which was confirmed by two-colour immuno-staining and immuno-electron microscopy.