Biochemistry and expression of myelomonocytic antigens

Six monoclonal antibodies (MAb) which react with myelomonocytic cells representing various stages of differentiation, and which precipitate six different cell surface molecules, were identified. A 50 to 55 kilodalton (Kd) glycoprotein, restricted in expression to mature cells of the monocyte lineage, was detected by immunoprecipitation with antibody MoS39. By using COS-7 cells transfected with a cDNA clone encoding the MoS39 antigen, various well-described anti-monocyte MAb, including Mo2, My4, Leu-M3 (MoP9), MoP15, MoS1, and 63D3, also bound to MoS39-expressing COS-7 cells, suggesting that this group of antibodies reacted with the same glycoprotein. Immature cells of the myelomonocytic lineage were shown to express two distinct molecules: one with an m.w. of 26 to 28 Kd identified by antibody SG133, and the second, a 130 to 140 Kd glycoprotein identified by MoU26. Mature granulocytes were found to express a 60 Kd molecule identified by antibody SG185 which was absent from other cells of this lineage. Two other molecules were shown to be present on both mature and immature cells of the granulocytic and monocytic lineages: a 130 to 140 Kd glycoprotein identified by antibody SG134, and a 160 to 170 Kd glycoprotein recognized by antibody MoU48.