Ultrastructural localization of the transferrin receptor and transferrin on marrow cell surfaces

The monoclonal antibody OKT9 (a known transferrin receptor antibody) and a monoclonal antibody to transferrin (ATfn) were used to localize the transferrin receptor and transferrin on marrow cells. After incubation of cell suspensions with the antibody, the cells were reacted with an affinity purified Fab fragment of goat anti-mouse IgG conjugated to horseradish peroxidase (GAM-HRP), which was in turn visualized by reaction with 3,3'-diaminobenzidine (DAB). Erythroblast cell surfaces stained intensely with OKT9-GAM-HRP-DAB, weaker staining was observed on reticulocyte surfaces, whereas erythrocyte surfaces lacked staining. Staining was present on surface caveolae, which often contained endogenous ferritin particles. Moderate to strong OKT9 staining was observed on less than 10% of presumed lymphoid cells. Monocytes, macrophages, promyelocytes, granulocytes, megakaryocytes and platelets consistently lacked OKT9 staining. ATfn-GAM-HRP-DAB staining of erythroid cells was similar to that observed with OKT9 staining; however, in contrast to the latter staining, ATfn stained the surfaces of megakaryocytes, platelets, monocytes and most lymphocytes. Promyelocytes stained weakly, whereas late granulocytes lacked staining. These results indicate that the T9 transferrin receptor (1) is largely confined to erythroid cells in marrow, (2) is diffusely distributed on the surface of early erythroid cells, (3) decreases with cell maturation, and (4) is lost when haemoglobin synthesis is completed. Transferrin appears in a similar distribution on erythroid cell surfaces but also appears to bind to some cell surfaces lacking the T9 receptor.