[Distribution of C3b receptors on polymorphonuclear leukocytes from normal healthy adults by scanning immunoelectron...

The distribution of C3b receptors on polymorphonuclear leukocytes cultured from normal healthy volunteers was examined by scanning immunoelectron microscopy with mouse anti-CR1 monoclonal antibody and 40 nm-goat anti-mouse IgG antibody. The distribution was categorized into three types; first, Au-particles clustered in numbers of several to ten or more on polymorphonuclear leukocytes (mean +/- S.D. = 59.5 +/- 36.8, n = 146), second, tens of the particles mostly on two or three ruffles of the cells (121.7 +/- 63.8, n = 45), and third, particles assembled at one part of the cells (74.1 +/- 47.4, n = 59). The distribution of Au-particles on all polymorphonuclear leukocytes showed a normal distribution curve (74.1 +/- 50.6, n = 250, p less than 0.02). These results show that polymorphonuclear leukocytes had some tendencies but no uniformity of distribution of C3b receptors on their plasma membrane when they were cultured.