Expression of complement factor H on the cell surface of the human monocytic cell line U937

Binding assays and immunocytochemical staining with monoclonal antibodies against the human serum complement protein factor H indicate that factor H antigen is present on the surface of more than 95% of the cells of the human monocytic cell line U937. The antigen is uniformly distributed and there are 10 000-15 000 copies/cell. Factor H antigen is strongly associated with the cell surface and is not removed by hypotonic or hypertonic washes. Factor H antigen has been isolated from surface radioiodinated and 35S biosynthetically labeled cells using polyclonal anti-factor H-Sepharose columns. The antigen is indistinguishable from serum factor H in molecular weight. Secretion of factor H by U937 cells was not detected using sensitive tests in which factor H secretion by monocytes was apparent. Phorbol myristate acetate stimulation of the cells had no effect on the average number of factor H molecules expressed. We conclude that factor H is synthesized by U937 cells, but is not secreted, and remains strongly associated with the cell surface. The surface-bound factor H may function as a C3b receptor.