Further characterization of surface membrane structures expressed on human basophils and mast cells

Recently, we were able to establish the immunologic surface marker profile of human basophils and mast cells. In the present study, the characterization of these cell types was extended by the use of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to hemopoietic differentiation antigens. Basophils and mast cells were enriched by mAbs and complement from chronic myeloid leukemia blood (n = 5) and dispersed lung tissue (n = 4), respectively. A panel of 80 mAbs was tested for being reactive with purified cell populations using flow cytometry and/or a combined toluidine blue-immunofluorescence staining procedure. In addition to previous findings, basophils were found to react with mAbs directed against the 126-kilodalton dipeptidylpeptidase IV (CD26), platelet glycoprotein IIa (CD31), CD40 antigen known to share sequence homology with nerve growth factor receptor, leukosialin (CD43), CD44 antigen, the ICAM-1 antigen (CD54) and VIM2-reactive gangliosides involving the sialofucooligosaccharide sequence (CDw65L). Bsp-1 was found to be a specific marker for human basophils, whereas mast cells were not stained by this reagent. Basophils apparently lack CD22 antigen, gangliosides detected by CDw65 mAbs (except CDw65L) and CD71 antigen (transferrin receptor). Mast cells were found to express CD43 and CD44 antigen. In contrast, mast cells lack CD22, CD26, CD31, CD40 and CDw65 antigen. These results provide further evidence that both blood basophils and mast cells express a unique immunologic surface marker profile including binding sites for a variety of immunomodulating ligands and adhesion molecules.